tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354Mon, 16 Feb 2015 22:58:07 +0000GoogletechtoolsthoughtsHow ToReviewsAppleAndroidGadgetsGoogle AppsGoogle Formsprojects#mwgsGoogle DocsGoogle EarthGoogle SitesHangoutsTwitteriPadiPods in the Classroompodcastschadkafka.com blogMr. Kafka is a K-12 Technology Integration Specialist that works with teachers and students to push technology forward in education.http://blog.chadkafka.com/noreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)Blogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-4985869033557535178Sun, 21 Sep 2014 22:48:00 +00002014-09-21T17:49:39.386-05:00Google FormstechtoolsMaking a Custom Google Forms Banner with Google DrawingsEarlier this month, <a href="http://googledrive.blogspot.com/2014/09/custom-forms-themes.html" target="_blank">Google updated Google Forms so we can now customize the look of a form</a>. &nbsp;Since I'm all about the <i>snazz, </i>I immediately took to this! &nbsp;I just made a template for a banner to share out to my staff with some directions on how to get started. &nbsp;Took some screenshots along the way and included those on the template as well. <br /><div><br /></div><div><b>EXAMPLE:</b> I was creating a sign up form for a PowerTeacher Gradebook training in my building. &nbsp;Here's the final form below with custom banner I whipped up using Google Drawings...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_wE-_U92KJw/VB9U5MharMI/AAAAAAAAZRE/H3B5nCYKwps/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-09-21%2Bat%2B5.19.38%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_wE-_U92KJw/VB9U5MharMI/AAAAAAAAZRE/H3B5nCYKwps/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-09-21%2Bat%2B5.19.38%2BPM.png" height="257" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Banners just have to be 1200 pixels wide by 300 pixels tall (like Google+ Event or Hangout on Air custom banners). &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://docs.google.com/a/franklin.k12.wi.us/drawings/d/1RK-ppV0ogAcoYL9HyUrsgrR86Tc5ve0TGsMx-fEnf-c/edit" target="_blank">Here's a link to the Google Drawing Banner Template I made</a>.</b> &nbsp;The template contains directions and screenshots for how to set up a custom banner. &nbsp;If you like this, save it to a Google Drive folder of yours for access later! &nbsp;Enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2014/09/custom-google-form-banner.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-4323331324921048242Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:57:00 +00002013-03-07T06:26:21.853-06:00AndroidApplepodcaststhoughtsPodcasts I Listen To<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fTMN2TqaATc/USpQ5NeBJAI/AAAAAAAALXk/LTGokZBF9e0/s1600/podcast-headphones.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fTMN2TqaATc/USpQ5NeBJAI/AAAAAAAALXk/LTGokZBF9e0/s320/podcast-headphones.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.onlinedegrees.org/wp-content/uploads/podcast-headphones.png" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Credit</span></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I host a new podcast called <b><a href="http://edreach.us/channel/ttt/" target="_blank">Te@cher Tech T@lk</a></b> through <a href="http://www.edreach.us/">www.edreach.us</a>&nbsp;with edtech colleagues and friends&nbsp;<a href="http://www.twitter.com/taml17" target="_blank">Tammy Lind</a> &amp; <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jepcke" target="_blank">Judi Epcke</a>. &nbsp;Between our bi-weekly regular shows, we are each doing a very short 5-10 min podcast around a specific topic. &nbsp;We're calling these "Tidbit" episodes. &nbsp;On our first <a href="http://edreach.us/podcast/teacher-tech-talk-tidbit-consuming-podcasts/" target="_blank"><b>Te@cher Tech T@lk TIDBIT podcast</b></a>, I did a little 'mini-lesson' on what exactly IS a podcast and how does one consume a podcast? &nbsp;That term gets thrown around a lot but I still get questions from people related to, "what is a podcast?" &nbsp;Click the link above to get a listen to a short synopsis on what a podcast is! &nbsp;I'll wait...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...done? &nbsp;Good. &nbsp;So, now that you know a podcast can be audio or video one consumes, I wanted to share some podcasts that I listen to. &nbsp;I should preface this also by saying that I work in technology so a lot of the podcasts I listen to have to do <i>with</i> technology. &nbsp;But, I'll also share some podcasts I listen to for fun as well (though those are pretty geeky too). &nbsp;That's the beauty of podcasts -- there is more than likely <i>something</i> out there that will interest you. &nbsp;You just have to search and find it. &nbsp;Favorite TV show you like? Chances are someone does a podcast about it. &nbsp;Like gardening? I'm sure you can find a podcast with tips for gardeners. &nbsp;Enjoy listening to authors talk about their books? &nbsp;Probably something out there for you. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I should also share that I don't necessarily listen to <i>all</i> episodes of the podcasts I've chosen to spotlight below. I occasionally skip them depending on life...and that's okay. I share that because I don't want people to think that if you start listening to a podcast you always <i>have</i> to catch every episode. That's the beauty of podcasts. &nbsp;Dip in when you want. &nbsp;I also have a 35-40 minute commute to work so that lends itself to having some time to kill. &nbsp;During the summer, if I'm cutting the grass, I'll listen to a podcast. &nbsp;During the winter, if I have to shovel...podcast. &nbsp;Clean the house...podcast. &nbsp;Plenty of time when I'm doing "mindless" work where I can multitask and listen to something. &nbsp;So here goes...podcasts I listen to...</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TECHNOLOGY PODCASTS</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKJPdDvAQC8/USpO6Z56c1I/AAAAAAAALWQ/mOQA6c8pq70/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.12.02+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKJPdDvAQC8/USpO6Z56c1I/AAAAAAAALWQ/mOQA6c8pq70/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.12.02+AM.png" /></a></div><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.16566363396123052" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://twit.tv/twig"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This Week in Google</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-google/id326120877?mt=2"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes Audio</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> | </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-google-video/id360895457?mt=2"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes Video</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> | </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ThisWeekInG/feed?filter=2"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube Channel</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) - Part of the TWiT (This Week in Tech) network. &nbsp;My new favorite part of this show is the “Google Change Log” where they share what’s new from Google in terms of updates, releases, etc. &nbsp;The group that leads this discussion also talks about legal, social and political implications related to web based tools and Google. &nbsp;They release their shows in both audio and video formats on iTunes and YouTube.</span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xxXLPQVMzPU/USpO6Ze8o6I/AAAAAAAALWY/4OKQdkCyGHg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.11.40+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xxXLPQVMzPU/USpO6Ze8o6I/AAAAAAAALWY/4OKQdkCyGHg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.11.40+AM.png" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://twit.tv/show/all-about-android/97"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All About Android</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-android/id429307630?mt=2"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes Audio</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> | </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-android-video-small/id429427091?mt=2"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes Video</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> | </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/AllAboutAndroid"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube Channel</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) - Part of the TWiT network. &nbsp;This is a new listen for me. &nbsp;This is a show all about the Android platform. &nbsp;The group shares the latest news and updates. &nbsp;They also share a new app they are using and ways to use it. They release their shows in both audio and video formats on iTunes and YouTube.</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IsjKxOcaNk8/USpO6ZfM3AI/AAAAAAAALWU/L1RH--buQKo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.13.04+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IsjKxOcaNk8/USpO6ZfM3AI/AAAAAAAALWU/L1RH--buQKo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.13.04+AM.png" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://twit.tv/mbw"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MacBreak Weekly</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/macbreak-weekly/id179237749?mt=2"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes Audio</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> | </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/macbreak-weekly-video-small/id359518320?mt=2"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes Video</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> | </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/TWiTMacBreak/videos?flow=grid&amp;view=0"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube Channel</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) - Part of the TWiT network. &nbsp;This was one of the very first podcasts I listened to. This show focuses specifically on Apple/Mac related news. &nbsp;The panel is very knowledgeable when it comes to technology and would be a good listen for those interested in the ‘super geeky.’ &nbsp;They release their shows in both audio and video formats on iTunes and YouTube.</span></b></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>EDUCATIONAL PODCASTS</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U0dIOsqQw3w/USpP_UdyULI/AAAAAAAALXU/xaTiSxMZwEs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+11.37.41+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U0dIOsqQw3w/USpP_UdyULI/AAAAAAAALXU/xaTiSxMZwEs/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+11.37.41+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.16566363396123052" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://edreach.us/channel/mobilereach/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mobile Reach</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mobile-reach/id446304170"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) - Part of the EdReach network. Some super tech knowledgeable friends of mine now host the show and share out uses for mobile devices in the education and the classroom. They share apps, uses, tricks, tips. &nbsp;Good conversation to listen to.</span></span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bwreC8TKzNc/USpP_Wxj3UI/AAAAAAAALXY/R0cwhJvmFZo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+11.36.59+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bwreC8TKzNc/USpP_Wxj3UI/AAAAAAAALXY/R0cwhJvmFZo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+11.36.59+AM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.16566363396123052" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://edreach.us/channel/googleeducast/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Google Educast</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/google-educast/id446301138"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> | </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCAC5DF5FDE4B9A63"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube Channel</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) - Part of the EdReach network. &nbsp;Some Google Certified Teachers &amp; Trainers talk new news related to Google and how it impacts education. This is a weekly listen for me as I get a lot of good tips for using Google tools from this group. &nbsp;They also do this as a “Google Hangout on Air” which means it saves to the </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCAC5DF5FDE4B9A63"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube Channel</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> if you would rather watch the show than listen.</span></span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wkjp2THubo/USpO6o08BhI/AAAAAAAALWc/IDJdmv699Pk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.17.07+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wkjp2THubo/USpO6o08BhI/AAAAAAAALWc/IDJdmv699Pk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.17.07+AM.png" /></a></div><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.16566363396123052" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.edlisten.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">EdListen</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/edlisten/id583757546?mt=2"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) - This is a new listen for me. Fellow Google Certified Trainer, Bjorn Behrendt, puts out this audio only podcasts where he sits down with usually one other person to talk about topics related to education. &nbsp;Recent topics have centered around Moodle, using Google in education, productivity with Calendars and other tools. &nbsp;I’ve been enjoying listening to this.</span></span></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">FUN/ENTERTAINMENT PODCASTS</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-657Xam5Td8o/USpO7Lpu88I/AAAAAAAALWk/d97GKP2qNcs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.22.05+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-657Xam5Td8o/USpO7Lpu88I/AAAAAAAALWk/d97GKP2qNcs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.22.05+AM.png" /></a></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b id="internal-source-marker_0.16566363396123052" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nerdist.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nerdist</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nerdist/id355187485?mt=2"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) - “Nerdist is a place where we nerds come together and share the nerdery that we find.” Chris Hardwick is a TV personality who puts out this audio podcast where he interviews actors, comedians, and the like. &nbsp;I really enjoy the one-on-one conversations and the people he brings in. &nbsp;Probably because I’m a geek. I don’t listen to ALL shows, but he puts them out fast enough that I usually find a name of someone I’d like to hear speak so I listen to THAT show. </span></span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9WIsjgeWLX8/USpO67MoNFI/AAAAAAAALWs/5LtGu2X1SbY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.19.05+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9WIsjgeWLX8/USpO67MoNFI/AAAAAAAALWs/5LtGu2X1SbY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.19.05+AM.png" /></a></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b id="internal-source-marker_0.16566363396123052" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/page.php?page_id=360">Tuesdays with Aaron</a></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tuesdays-with-aaron/id464101637?mt=2"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes)</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) - Aaron as in THE Aaron. Aaron Rodgers. &nbsp;This is a weekly radio show that ESPN Milwaukee does that they also put out as a podcast. &nbsp;Jason Wilde, a sports writer, does a one-on-one chat with Aaron each Tuesday during the Football season. &nbsp;They discuss the previous game and look ahead to the next opponent. &nbsp;I really appreciate how the conversation is very candid and sometimes gets into the hard questions. &nbsp;Wilde also takes questions from fans which leads to some good conversation. &nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BZydOzD0IyQ/USpO7udMjTI/AAAAAAAALW0/4KvYfGBlSRk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.27.24+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BZydOzD0IyQ/USpO7udMjTI/AAAAAAAALW0/4KvYfGBlSRk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.27.24+AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"></b></b></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><a href="http://youlooknicetoday.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You Look Nice Today</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/you-look-nice-today/id277928864?mt=2"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) - This podcast comes out NOT very often. &nbsp;This is a group of three guys that sarcastically take topics and spin them out to absurd ideas. &nbsp;I can’t really even describe the premise for the show as each show is it’s own thing. Their tagline is “a journal of emotional hygiene.” &nbsp;I appreciate their ‘schtick’ and high brow humor. &nbsp;Their shows are very few and far between lately. &nbsp;</span></span></b><br /><div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2iLdBI7-Tbc/USpO7IguN8I/AAAAAAAALWo/nvmfW-rqmi4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.27.14+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2iLdBI7-Tbc/USpO7IguN8I/AAAAAAAALWo/nvmfW-rqmi4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-24+at+10.27.14+AM.png" /></a></div><div></div><div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><a href="http://www.wtfpod.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WTF with Marc Maron</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wtf-with-marc-maron-podcast/id329875043?mt=2"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iTunes</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) - If you don’t know what “WTF” stands for, don’t listen to this show. Marc Maron is a comedian that started his own podcast. He does one-on-one interviews with mostly comedians and actors. &nbsp;He swears. &nbsp;A lot. &nbsp;Tagged “explicit” because of that. &nbsp;This is another one I don’t listen to every show but occasionally catch a name I want to hear in a conversation. &nbsp;</span></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9NAQlFKKCxo/US111LyUZhI/AAAAAAAALZc/cXhU4FFL0ZI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-26+at+8.45.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9NAQlFKKCxo/US111LyUZhI/AAAAAAAALZc/cXhU4FFL0ZI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-26+at+8.45.22+PM.png" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ifanboy.com/" target="_blank">iFanboy</a> (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ifanboy.com-comic-book-podcast/id90983408?mt=2" target="_blank">iTunes</a>) - Alright. Confession time. I'm a geek. I know...I know...you didn't know this far into the post that I like geeky things. &nbsp;I used to collect comic books; not so much anymore. The guys that do this show do it weekly and share out what's new in the world of comics. They also do movie reviews of comic-related movies when they come out which I enjoy. This is one that I find myself occasionally listening to just to hear what's new in the world of comics. &nbsp;They do a great job. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kddJEhhxUsU/US111FRjl6I/AAAAAAAALZg/LQlDd8lr_q8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-26+at+8.44.53+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kddJEhhxUsU/US111FRjl6I/AAAAAAAALZg/LQlDd8lr_q8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-26+at+8.44.53+PM.png" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://wordballoon.com/" target="_blank">Word Balloon</a> (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/word-balloon-comic-book-creators/id80234052?mt=2" target="_blank">iTunes</a>) &nbsp;- This is another comic related podcast. &nbsp;John Siuntres, who's a radio personality in Chicago, does this interview podcast where he talks one-on-one with writers, artists and creators. I really enjoy conversation shows like this to find out what a creator goes through during the creation process. &nbsp;This is another that I catch every so often when I recognize a name of a creator he is interviewing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there you have it. &nbsp;Those are the podcasts I listen to.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I highly recommend checking a podcast out. Find something that interests you. If you find it in iTunes, just click SUBSCRIBE and listen to a few episodes to see what you think. If you have an iPhone or iPad, use the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/podcasts/id525463029?mt=8" target="_blank">PODCASTS app</a> to download some podcasts. &nbsp;If you have Android, check out <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.com.shiftyjelly.pocketcasts&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">Pocket Casts</a>&nbsp;or if you have a Galaxy S3, you can use the KiesCast app that comes with the phone. &nbsp;All different ways to get the media on to your device and if you can't figure out a way to do it...Google it. :) &nbsp; Thanks for reading.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(Please share in the comments what podcasts you listen to! I'm always looking for new ones to try out!)</i></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2013/02/podcasts-i-listen-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-1057139024714541701Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:53:00 +00002012-11-13T21:01:11.757-06:00#mwgsGooglethoughtsMidwest Google Summit 2012 Takeaways<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xiAO8pGUzjk/UKL7mMEhVPI/AAAAAAAAK8k/z-onqZ2yPn8/s1600/gapsmidwestsummit.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xiAO8pGUzjk/UKL7mMEhVPI/AAAAAAAAK8k/z-onqZ2yPn8/s320/gapsmidwestsummit.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />I had the pleasure of attending and presenting at the 2nd annual&nbsp;<a href="http://www.midwestgooglesummit.com/" target="_blank"><b>Midwest Google Summit</b></a> this past Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in Wisconsin Dells and would like to share some of the takeaways and resources from the conference. <br /><br />Check out the <a href="http://www.midwestgooglesummit.com/2011-summit-resources" target="_blank"><b>Resources page</b></a> here where all presenters linked up their presentations online. &nbsp;You'll definately find some good Google resources! &nbsp;<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/kafkaworkshops/home/2012-11-11-midwest-google-summit" target="_blank"><b>All my sessions are on this page</b></a>&nbsp;of my 'workshops' site. &nbsp;I presented on using Google Drive, Hangouts, and Chrome. &nbsp;You can also see messages posted to Twitter with the <b><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23mwgs&amp;src=typd" target="_blank">#mwgs</a></b> tag and find what people were conversing about. &nbsp;What follows are 10 quick tips, snippets or things I take with me back to the real world.<br /><br /><b>1.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.voxer.com/" target="_blank">Voxer</a></b> - this is NOTHING Google related, but <a href="http://www.andycrozier.com/" target="_blank"><b>Andy Crozier</b></a> introduced me to this app (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voxer-walkie-talkie/id377304531?mt=8" target="_blank">iPhone</a>/<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rebelvox.voxer" target="_blank">Android</a>) that is a 'walkie-talkie' app similar to how the old Nextel phones used to work. Helped me keep in quick contact with sending short audio bursts to others walkie-talkie style. &nbsp;Quicker than texting. &nbsp;Can also text and send pictures through the app as well. &nbsp;Super efficient.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ggXqge4vpm0/UKMHVAyJZbI/AAAAAAAAK90/ZClALDFSLyQ/s1600/voxer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ggXqge4vpm0/UKMHVAyJZbI/AAAAAAAAK90/ZClALDFSLyQ/s320/voxer.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>2. &nbsp;"Popout" of a YouTube video</b> - <a href="http://www.garrisonsites.com/" target="_blank"><b>Mark Garrison</b></a> showed this in his YouTube session and I loved it. &nbsp;Right-click (or Control-Click if using Mac) on any YouTube video and one of the menu choices that comes up is 'pop-out.' &nbsp;This forces the video pop out to it's own window, but more importantly, you can COPY that URL and put it on your site. &nbsp;When users click the link from your site, the video will open in it's own tab at almost full screen. &nbsp;Can also change the end of the text in the URL to 'small,' 'medium,' 'large,' 'hd720' or 'hd1080' which will affect the quality or crystal-ness of the video as it plays. &nbsp;Awesome little nugget. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TcQf9YGUem8/UKL-gLU3WdI/AAAAAAAAK84/7K5RJOBENCg/s1600/yt-popout.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TcQf9YGUem8/UKL-gLU3WdI/AAAAAAAAK84/7K5RJOBENCg/s320/yt-popout.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>3. &nbsp;<a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/tabcloud/npecfdijgoblfcgagoijgmgejmcpnhof" target="_blank">TabCloud</a> extension for Chrome</b> - I picked up a few new extensions or apps at MWGS, but <b><a href="https://plus.google.com/111439111234287809025/about" target="_blank">Stacy Behmer</a></b> introduced this one to me that's great for educators or presenters. &nbsp;After installing, you go through and open the tabs you want open for teaching a class or presenting. &nbsp;With all the tabs open (videos, notes, sites you plan to go to during the lesson), you click on TabCloud and 'save' that instance of Chrome with all those tabs open. &nbsp;You do this before your class as you're getting all set up and you can name the 'tabcloud.' &nbsp;Then, when you're getting ready to teach/present later, you go to TabCloud and click that tabcloud and wa-la --- all the tabs open and you're all ready for class or your presentation. &nbsp;Genius. &nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=7ylxyyQ9cTg&amp;vq=medium" target="_blank"><b>Go watch the video</b></a> to learn more. &nbsp;.... See what I did there with the link the video all 'popout' style? :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tDczg3xY5n4/UKMAMFV4pzI/AAAAAAAAK9A/dbYHGiCKdQQ/s1600/tabcloud.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tDczg3xY5n4/UKMAMFV4pzI/AAAAAAAAK9A/dbYHGiCKdQQ/s320/tabcloud.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>4. <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/watchdoc/okagolgbanbllgndpnacdhohdfacdhfm?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon" target="_blank">WatchDoc</a> extension for Chrome</b> - Another extension that <b><a href="https://plus.google.com/111439111234287809025/about" target="_blank">Stacy Behmer</a></b> shared with me was WatchDoc. &nbsp;Allows you to see docs from Google Drive that were edited recently. &nbsp;Great if you're a teacher that has files shared with students so you can see who touched what recently. Can open the doc right from this list as well. &nbsp;<i><b>TIP</b>: 'desktop notifications' are turned on by default which allows a little popup window to appear everytime a doc is updated. This can get annoying so right-click on the extension and go to OPTIONS and uncheck 'desktop notifications.'</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9yEmsGDYxKc/UKMBVMV8NXI/AAAAAAAAK9I/69Yw22qC5Ds/s1600/watchdoc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9yEmsGDYxKc/UKMBVMV8NXI/AAAAAAAAK9I/69Yw22qC5Ds/s320/watchdoc.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>5. <a href="https://www.symphonical.com/" target="_blank">Symphonical</a></b> - I presented on Google Hangouts and had 3 colleagues 'hangout' in to talk with the audience. &nbsp;Friend <a href="http://teachinglikeits2999.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Jennie Magiera</b></a> shared an app you can use to manage projects while IN a Hangout called Symphonical. &nbsp;Allows you to easily assign tasks, set deadlines and project manage. &nbsp;All work is saved in your Symphonical account, which you can sign in to using your Google credentials. &nbsp;Neat web tool and Hangout app!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gBfWFTbRjGM/UKMB6kX6idI/AAAAAAAAK9Q/vbTcyEcasY4/s1600/symphonical.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gBfWFTbRjGM/UKMB6kX6idI/AAAAAAAAK9Q/vbTcyEcasY4/s320/symphonical.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>6. &nbsp;<a href="https://plus.google.com/110344475746210074770" target="_blank">Hangouts Toolbox</a></b> - While in the same Hangout, friend <b><a href="http://epicepoch.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">David Freeburg</a></b> shared another Hangout app to&nbsp;definitely&nbsp;add called "Hangouts Toolbox." &nbsp;This gives you more controls over audio settings for each user, more on camera fun tools like faces and just a lot of great features!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NX6ifynppHY/UKMGeEyDe9I/AAAAAAAAK9k/VHEEaL3v5R0/s1600/hangout+toolbox.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="72" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NX6ifynppHY/UKMGeEyDe9I/AAAAAAAAK9k/VHEEaL3v5R0/s320/hangout+toolbox.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>7. Google Groups</b> - I've been very familiar with Google Groups (different from Contacts) and I'm a part of many but I've been starting to look at using these with students or thinking about them more on a mass scale. <a href="http://henrythiele.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Hank Thiele</b></a> shared (<b><a href="https://docs.google.com/a/franklin.k12.wi.us/presentation/pub?id=1Mq2x1LbTjOjCkH9RYfbe3-3bncT8qQWZNPV70ILncO8&amp;start=false&amp;loop=false&amp;delayms=3000#slide=id.g32ee1704_2_18" target="_blank">slides</a></b>) logistics for setting these up and great tips when thinking about using Google Groups with your domain. &nbsp;Lots of great ideas here. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>8. &nbsp;Coulees.</b>&nbsp; Learned what they are. Enlightened. <i>(Googling the definition doesn't do it justice.)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d60KNQyFLiM/UKMG2pCX9aI/AAAAAAAAK9s/0vd-_VLRCYo/s1600/fullercoulee.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d60KNQyFLiM/UKMG2pCX9aI/AAAAAAAAK9s/0vd-_VLRCYo/s320/fullercoulee.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>9. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.twitter.com/smbeaverson" target="_blank">Sean Beaverson's</a> Demo Slam</b> - I was thoroughly impressed with our Demo Slam competition at the end of the summit where we have 3 minutes to show one 'cool' thing. &nbsp;Sean started a Google Doc at his computer and then opened that same doc from the Google Drive app on his phone and showed that he could edit the doc from his mobile device just like at the computer. &nbsp;But that wasn't it...with the voice dictation capabilities built into the smartphone, he was able to dictate RIGHT into the document from his mobile device. &nbsp;Pretty cool use of the technology, kids. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>10. &nbsp;Connections.</b> &nbsp;This is cheap way to end the blog post, but I'm doing it anyway. &nbsp;Loved all the connections that were made. &nbsp;Enjoyed hearing and seeing what others are doing in their districts or how they are using these tools to connect online. &nbsp;Whenever I introduce Google Apps to people for the first time, I try to show the importance of how all these tools are connected. &nbsp;Loved seeing the 'people' side of that this weekend. &nbsp;Great time. &nbsp;Great people. &nbsp;Great fun. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for reading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>P.S. A last second #11 just for Andy (and Hank):</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4VCow9Urq7E/UKMHjeXTGEI/AAAAAAAAK98/FuEok9ek-dU/s1600/rodgers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4VCow9Urq7E/UKMHjeXTGEI/AAAAAAAAK98/FuEok9ek-dU/s320/rodgers.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><!------>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2012/11/midwest-google-summit-2012-takeaways.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-7256051513089905591Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:18:00 +00002012-08-29T23:48:28.904-05:00GoogleHangoutsGoogle+ Hangout with Aaron Rodgers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIp0vjFm5mQ/UDp8AeUf_BI/AAAAAAAAKuU/B3bdbX5-MPg/s1600/120822-rodgers-hangout-600.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIp0vjFm5mQ/UDp8AeUf_BI/AAAAAAAAKuU/B3bdbX5-MPg/s320/120822-rodgers-hangout-600.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This past week, I was browsing around on Facebook and saw a post from the Green Bay Packers Facebook page about a "Google+ Hangout with Aaron Rodgers" taking place the following week on August 28, 2012. &nbsp;Being a Packers subscriber of everything, I also received an email about this, saw a <a href="https://twitter.com/packers/status/238355424997429248" target="_blank">Tweet</a> and saw a <a href="https://plus.google.com/+packers/posts/ejppiiCPebJ" target="_blank">Google+ mention</a> as well. &nbsp;For those that don't know, a "<a href="http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/" target="_blank">Google Hangou</a>t" is a group video chat. &nbsp;Think of it like Skype, but you can video chat (or 'hangout') with up to 10 other people. &nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.packers.com/media-center/videos/Clay-Matthews-video-chats-with-fans-on-Google/96214b6d-21ad-4f21-b87f-fd844769de43" target="_blank">Packers did one of these with Clay Matthews back in the spring</a>&nbsp;if you want to see how it works. &nbsp;I use Google Hangouts all the time. &nbsp;I meet online with other colleagues when we work on group projects and record our <a href="http://www.edreach.us/mobilereachshow" target="_blank">Mobile Reach podcast</a> through a Google Hangout as part of the <a href="http://www.edreach.us/" target="_blank">Edreach</a> network. &nbsp;I'm also hoping Google Hangouts can be our 'virtual meeting place' tool for <a href="http://www.franklin.k12.wi.us/" target="_blank">Franklin Public Schools</a> where I work (they need to still open up the full features to K-12 education domains...little pressure, Google!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Quick awesome sidenote, Google Hangouts just recently rolled into GMail, so if you have a GMail account, you can start and participate in a Hangout with others. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ra8HG6MkOXY" target="_blank">Brief video here explains.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, saw the mention of this and saw that in order to be one of five selected to participate, you had to make a 30-60 second video of yourself explaining why you should be selected. &nbsp;Sat down at my computer on Wednesday night (Aug 22) and recorded myself talking about why I'd like to talk with Aaron Rodgers. Easy enough...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/iubI5cku05E/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iubI5cku05E?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iubI5cku05E?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i>One little caveat here to something I mentioned in my video application -- I thought I would be notified in time to get questions from others (staff / students) but the time flow of things didn't work to my advantage. Still, I made sure to ask questions that I thought would be beneficial to any staff or students that see the final product. ;)</i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After the video was done, I followed their directions and responded to the Google+ post with a message and a link to my video...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rUedeiCKO2I/UDp_bO6bp7I/AAAAAAAAKuk/50681V11R3w/s1600/ChadG+Post.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rUedeiCKO2I/UDp_bO6bp7I/AAAAAAAAKuk/50681V11R3w/s320/ChadG+Post.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Friday (Aug 24), I received a Google+ message from the Packers account saying I was "in consideration" for the Hangout with Aaron Rodgers and to email an Packers.com employee account with some information about myself. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Sunday (Aug 26), I received another email asking to connect over Hangout later that day to check and test settings for the Tuesday Hangout. &nbsp;Met online with Duke from the Packers organization to go over logistics and he told me I was one of 25 to be picked for the 5 seats and I would know more in the next 24 hours. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />On Monday (Aug 27), I was leading a tech training in my district and didn't get to check email until around 11:30, but when I did, there was an email saying I was one of the 5 finalists! That means I was picked to "Hang Out" with Aaron Rodgers on Tues, Aug 28 @ 2pm CT! &nbsp;The Hangout was streamed live (through a cool feature called&nbsp;<a href="http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/onair.html" target="_blank">Hangouts on Air</a>)&nbsp;and I made sure to OVER share the link through my Twitter account, Google+ and Facebook!<br /><div></div><br /><b>MY THOUGHTS PRIOR TO THE HANGOUT</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">So obviously the Packers and Aaron Rodgers fan side of me is super excited! &nbsp;I was told to prepare 5-6 questions and I have a few of my own. &nbsp;What would you ask? &nbsp;I wasn't able to get student questions like I said in my video because I had to submit the questions before I was picked. &nbsp;Hoping to do students, staff, family, Bears fans proud. &nbsp;;) &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The 'learner/technology geek' side of me wants to take a step back for a second and look at this. &nbsp;How cool is this from a technology and personal standpoint? &nbsp;More and more, we get to connect virtually online with others. &nbsp;I'm finding myself doing this all the time. &nbsp;How can we teach this to and impart this on our students to do things like this? &nbsp;To reach out to others through the internets and make a connection? &nbsp;I meant what I said in my video -- I want to showcase things like this to others so they can think, "How can I do that? How can I connect with an author of my children's stories? &nbsp;How can I connect with an engineer around a topic we are learning about? &nbsp;How can we connect more?" &nbsp;The technology is there. &nbsp;How are you as an educator going to use it?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.packers.com/media-center/videos/aaron-rodgers-video-chats-with-fans-on-google/30ee9d0c-9ac2-439a-bb4b-8ee26ae4cf7d" target="_blank">Click here to see the Google Hangout with Aaron Rodgers</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xaqzBiZgtCU/UD7vVlT5XyI/AAAAAAAAKv0/ZfdNehaYk-g/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-08-29+at+11.36.09+PM.png" width="400" /></div><br /><b>MY THOUGHTS AFTER THE HANGOUT</b><br />What a humbling and surreal experience. &nbsp;It was pointed out to me by many that I was the 'oldest' one in the Hangout. Awesome. &nbsp;I was impressed with how conversational Aaron was. &nbsp;Very down to earth. &nbsp;Just wanted to talk. We were only supposed to go 15 minutes but he hung out with us longer and the total show ran 30 minutes. &nbsp;It was great to hear his responses and thoughts related to being a role model, how he learns something new and social media. &nbsp;The educator part of me is excited to hopefully use clips from this where he talks about NFL players using Twitter inappropriately or just being aware that pictures can be taken of you at any time. &nbsp;Some good content there. &nbsp;The fan part of me was really just overall impressed with how he carries himself. <br /><br />Thanks to all for the kind thoughts, jokes, questions, and congratulations. &nbsp;Was a great time and I'm glad I was able to share it with so many.</div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2012/08/google-hangout-with-aaron-rodgers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-6440887766851390562Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:28:00 +00002012-02-17T15:28:51.189-06:00Google FormsHow TotechtoolsUsing Google Forms FormEmailer Script<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8blVkIrp9kA/Tz7GZnFSMXI/AAAAAAAAImQ/og-i_fIA0r8/s1600/FormsIcon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8blVkIrp9kA/Tz7GZnFSMXI/AAAAAAAAImQ/og-i_fIA0r8/s200/FormsIcon.png" width="170" /></a></div><br />Over the past 5-6 months, I've been looking for an ideal way to have submitted Google Form responses go to my students in the form of an email and I think I finally have my solution! &nbsp;This has been around for a while and I remember looking at the FormEmailer script a while back but for some reason I didn't go as in to detail with it and didn't think it would fit my needs. &nbsp;Double backed to it today and I'm super excited to use this going forward! &nbsp;Here are some directions and my use case to share in case others want to try using this. <br /><br />First, I created my rubric Google Form. &nbsp;An <a href="https://docs.google.com/a/franklinpublicschools.org/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dElSXzdEblZqdVRicmk0cmFaYlcwS3c6MA" target="_blank">example of this is here.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;This Google Form would be only for me to fill out as the teacher. <br /><div><br /></div><div><b><u>STUDENTS' EMAIL ADDRESSES</u></b></div>I made sure the first question was "Email Address." &nbsp;&nbsp;This part would probably take me the longest going forward. I entered all my student's Google Apps for Education email addresses as a drop down menu choice. &nbsp;So my kids could see <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDFTZmx1cVg2QmlSMTlSQnRkU0t2Wmc6MA" target="_blank">the form linked up on our class website</a>, I would make a COPY of the spreadsheet/form and take out the first question so no one could submit this form or see other's email addresses. <i>&nbsp;(I wouldn't want a curious student filling out the original rubric and have the FormEmailer script running to send a copy to whoever, would I?)</i><br /><br /><b><u>FormEmailer SCRIPT</u></b><br />After the form was ready to go, I had to install the FormEmailer Script. &nbsp;Honestly, I don't know that much about scripts in Google Spreadsheets other than they are little bits of code that can make things happen. &nbsp;Thanks to <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/formemailer/" target="_blank">Henrique Abreu who created this FormEmailer script and his website</a> has great directions for showing how this works. &nbsp;Again, I know nothing about code and I could get this to work so give it a try! :)<br /><br /><b><u>STEPS TO USING THE SCRIPT</u></b><br />I followed <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/formemailer/getstarted" target="_blank">Henrique's video and the steps below the video</a> to install the script in my Google Spreadsheet.<br /><br />I went to TOOLS &gt; SCRIPT GALLERY and did a search for "FormEmailer." &nbsp;Two scripts came up. &nbsp;The screenshot below shows the one you should install to your spreadsheet.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ruPEd5iEBD8/Tz7Fp_Bh8wI/AAAAAAAAImI/CeRvHvo3tfk/s1600/FormEmailer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ruPEd5iEBD8/Tz7Fp_Bh8wI/AAAAAAAAImI/CeRvHvo3tfk/s400/FormEmailer1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />After installing the script, I went to<b> FormEmailer &gt; SETTINGS</b> and I created the email that my students would receive. I followed the advice given in Henrique's video to use the "placeholders." &nbsp;If you don't know any HTML coding, you can uncheck the HTML box on the left and just craft the email the way you want. &nbsp;If you do know HTML coding, you can leave this checked and add little codes where needed to do things like <b><b>bold</b></b> or do a linebreak<br /><br />and so on. &nbsp;My Email to my students is below:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-bXnA_tSws/Tz64q2RLRKI/AAAAAAAAIlY/hUQTUJKxD48/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-02-17+at+2.28.08+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-bXnA_tSws/Tz64q2RLRKI/AAAAAAAAIlY/hUQTUJKxD48/s400/Screen+shot+2012-02-17+at+2.28.08+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><b><u>TEST, TEST AND MORE TEST</u></b><br />After crafting this email, I went and filled out the form, making sure to choose my own email address as the "student" for now just to test things out. &nbsp;I saw the data from the form go into the spreadsheet. &nbsp;I then went to <b>FormEMailer &gt; PROCESS MANUALLY</b> and was asked what row to send, so I chose row "2" which is where my student submission was. &nbsp;The email went through and looked good but I tweaked a few things back in the <b>FormEmailer &gt; Settings</b> area and ran again until things looked the way I wanted. <br /><br /><b><u>THE TRIGGER</u></b><br />After testing a few times, I decided I want to turn on the ability for the form to automatically go to the recipient when the form is "SUBMIT"ed. &nbsp;The details on Henrique's site didn't say how to do this in the newest version of the script so I threw out a call on Twitter. &nbsp;Thankfully, new tech friend <a href="http://twitter.com/michellerussell" target="_blank">Michelle Russell</a>&nbsp;shared with me what a "trigger" was and how to turn it on. <br /><br />I went back in to the spreadsheet and went to<b> TOOLS &gt; SCRIPT EDITOR</b>. &nbsp;I clicked on "Copy of FormEmailer" as shown below.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BOoeDsqtV54/Tz67kv2oBiI/AAAAAAAAIlg/L_8bqYVk-Rs/s1600/FormEmailer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BOoeDsqtV54/Tz67kv2oBiI/AAAAAAAAIlg/L_8bqYVk-Rs/s400/FormEmailer2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Script window opened where all the code for this script was located. &nbsp;Scary. &nbsp;I didn't touch any of it! &nbsp;Go to <b>TRIGGERS &gt; ALL YOUR TRIGGERS. &nbsp;</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PUGm4gKgLC4/Tz67sNW1i4I/AAAAAAAAIlo/Sj0ZCVzgTww/s1600/FormEmailer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PUGm4gKgLC4/Tz67sNW1i4I/AAAAAAAAIlo/Sj0ZCVzgTww/s320/FormEmailer3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the "All your Triggers" window, I clicked <b>ADD A NEW TRIGGER</b> and made sure the windows showed what is shown below. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Run = timeDriven</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Events = From Spreadsheet &amp; On Form Submit</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I checked out the notifications link and you can have the spreadsheet email you if there's a problem. I set that to email me immediately if there's a problem. &nbsp;Screenshot below of my choices.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QU5L-J3LbKs/Tz677HjD1GI/AAAAAAAAIlw/xcr5zFe3vBE/s1600/FormEmailer4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QU5L-J3LbKs/Tz677HjD1GI/AAAAAAAAIlw/xcr5zFe3vBE/s400/FormEmailer4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I clicked SAVE in the Triggers window and then went to FILE &gt; SAVE in the script window just to be sure everything saved. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3vLQsI023ak/Tz68jl_dFwI/AAAAAAAAIl4/0AKwznwhbb8/s1600/FormEmailer5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3vLQsI023ak/Tz68jl_dFwI/AAAAAAAAIl4/0AKwznwhbb8/s320/FormEmailer5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I then tested filling out the form and seeing what happened. &nbsp;Totally worked! &nbsp;Any new submission sends the email address in that row the email I created with the details. &nbsp; Screenshot below of the email the students will receive. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pn4PnMjBYvg/Tz68vo35SzI/AAAAAAAAImA/zeq5YHAJ2I4/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-02-17+at+2.46.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pn4PnMjBYvg/Tz68vo35SzI/AAAAAAAAImA/zeq5YHAJ2I4/s640/Screen+shot+2012-02-17+at+2.46.32+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />So in the end, I now have a digital rubric I can use with my students to be able to quickly and efficiently email them feedback on a project. &nbsp;Entering student email addresses into the first question of the form is what will take me the longest, but for that little bit of time for the bigger payoff of authentic feedback (and no paper!) it's totally worth it. &nbsp;I suggest you try it out and see what you think. &nbsp;This is a also a great resource for administrators looking to do walk-throughs or staff feedback forms when visiting a class. <br /><br />P.S. &nbsp;Check the "<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/formemailer/" target="_blank">help/troubleshooting</a>" section of Henrique's site if you run into any problems.<br /><br /><br />http://blog.chadkafka.com/2012/02/using-google-forms-formemailer-script.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-1202789641957459370Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:19:00 +00002012-01-18T06:19:48.703-06:00thoughtsWhy the BLACK In My Internet World??<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a9sB9HGVLhE/Txa4Nti55-I/AAAAAAAAIKg/Lss9uJHoGvY/s1600/stopSOPA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a9sB9HGVLhE/Txa4Nti55-I/AAAAAAAAIKg/Lss9uJHoGvY/s320/stopSOPA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="p2"><br /></div><div class="p2">I just wrote an email to my staff about what's going on in the internet world today and I thought I would share this through my blog as well, because the implications affect all of us and how we use the internet. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="p2"><br /></div><div class="p2">=================================</div><div class="p2"><br /></div><div class="p2">All -&nbsp;</div><div class="p2"><br /></div><div class="p1">Just sharing some answers here before the questions come up today.</div><div class="p2"><br /></div><div class="p1">Q: &nbsp;Okay, I went to <a href="http://www.google.com/"><span class="s1">Google</span></a> this morning (Wed) and the logo is all blacked out. What gives? &nbsp;</div><div class="p2"><br /></div><div class="p1">-or-</div><div class="p2"><br /></div><div class="p1">Q: &nbsp;So, My kids were researching some information today (Wed) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page"><span class="s1">Wikipedia</span></a> is gone!? &nbsp;AHHHH!<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></div><div class="p2"><br /></div><div class="p1">Today (Wed), is a day where larger companies and organizations on the web are "blacking" out some or parts of their sites as a way of speaking out against some legislature known as SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect Intellectual Property Act) that are currently before Congress. &nbsp;The Senate will begin voting on these bills next week (Jan 24). &nbsp;</div><div class="p2"><br /></div><div class="p1"><b>Personal thoughts: </b>You might be thinking, "but piracy is bad, right? Why wouldn't you want to stop online piracy?" &nbsp;The reason many are opposed to this is because while these bills are being touted as focusing "online piracy" the implications for this would give the government control over the internet and take away the sense of freedoms on the internet where we can create our own content, start our own businesses, and really have the internet be a wide open frontier. &nbsp;If the gov't starts to regulate the internet, they would get to have a say in what websites you can go to, how online businesses can be run, and really clamp down on what we can and can't do. &nbsp;The whole purpose of the "world wide web" is that it's open to all to explore, create, communicate, and collaborate. &nbsp;&nbsp;I personally don't want to see the government have any kind of regulation over the internet because I think there are many at the top that don't have a sense of what the fundamental foundations of the internet are supposed to be.</div><div class="p2"><br /></div><div class="p1"><b>So, what can I do?</b> &nbsp;Here are a few links with more information:</div><ul class="ul1"><li class="li1"><a href="http://www.itworld.com/security/242291/biggest-sites-extend-sopa-protest-try-stop-senates-internet-censoring-pipa" target="_blank">Article with a lot of details about these two bills</a></li><li class="li1">More answers and facts <a href="https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/sopa-pipa/"><span class="s1">HERE</span></a> along with a 2min video that really shares the thoughts behind this movement.</li><li class="li1">Great info graphic <a href="https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/"><span class="s1">HERE</span></a> with a lot of details &amp; an online petition if you want to speak out against these bills.</li><li class="li1">See what people are saying online with the <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23stopsopa" target="_blank">#stopSOPA</a> tag</li><li class="li1">OR -- use the freedom you have on the web and do a search on "stop SOPA" or "stop PIPA" and see what you find!</li></ul><div class="p1">Just wanted to educate all on what was happening around us today in case you hear about it on the radio or see it on the news so you have a little more background information.&nbsp;</div><div class="p2"><br /></div><div class="p1">Thanks for reading,</div><div class="p1">Chad</div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2012/01/why-black-in-my-internet-world.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-8861763222383773020Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:22:00 +00002011-11-13T00:26:51.026-06:00AppleGoogleGoogle AppsApple & Google: Get Along!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mJ8xSrGqW8/Tr8N0URFSgI/AAAAAAAAIBM/A7E6bQFCi1g/s1600/GetAlong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mJ8xSrGqW8/Tr8N0URFSgI/AAAAAAAAIBM/A7E6bQFCi1g/s400/GetAlong.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Setup</b><br />This blog post about Apple and Google not getting along when it comes to the iPad and Google Apps for Education comes from my being inspired by the "<a href="http://twit.tv/show/this-week-in-google/120" target="_blank">This Week in Google</a>" podcast episode #120 with <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/leolaporte" target="_blank">Leo LaPorte</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/jeffjarvis" target="_blank">Jeff Jarvis</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ginatrapani" target="_blank">Gina Trapani</a>. &nbsp;While writing what's below, I also stumbled on my friend <a href="http://edreach.us/2011/11/07/a-letter-of-edreach-1-to-google-and-apple/" target="_blank">Scott Meech's open letter to Apple &amp; Google</a> which is very similar to what I'm writing about and I wholeheartedly agree with his thoughts. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Caveats</b><br />I am not going to pretend I have any kind of insider knowledge for how the companies of Apple and Google work. &nbsp;I am part of the <a href="http://www.google.com/educators/gtc.html" target="_blank">Google Certified Teacher</a> network and also an <a href="http://www.apple.com/education/apple-distinguished-educator/" target="_blank">Apple Distinguished Educator</a> and I'm very proud of both accomplishments. I get to network with some fantastic people that are doing some really great things in education, but I have no inside scoop on anything. &nbsp;The following thoughts come purely from my own use of Apple and Google products/services and reading or listening to some online content that is really disheartening. &nbsp;I'm not out to upset anyone. I'm just trying to change the world.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="100" src="http://images.businessweek.com/mz/10/04/600/0104_mz_28applegoogle.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="200" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.businessweek.com/mz/10/04/600/0104_mz_28applegoogle.jpg" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">source</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>History</b><br />There's no love lost between Apple and Google. &nbsp;I'm currently reading the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648537/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1321163556&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank">Steve Jobs biography</a>. &nbsp;Admittedly, I'm not even halfway through it yet, but everyone is talking about it. &nbsp;I've listened to some podcast reviews where others have shared some of the stories about how Steve Jobs had offered Google some valuable retail space on the iPhone home screen in exchange for Google not pursuing their own touch enabled software in the form of Android. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20111112/business/711129995/" target="_blank">We know now that Google did not accept that offer.</a>&nbsp; I share all this so people don't think I'm naive in saying, "Why can't they just get along?" &nbsp;I get there is a lot of competition between these two companies and that competition drives the marketplace. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1p15GZMqEcw/Tr9UpGraReI/AAAAAAAAIBU/QQILUZvBR0w/s1600/chromevsipad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1p15GZMqEcw/Tr9UpGraReI/AAAAAAAAIBU/QQILUZvBR0w/s320/chromevsipad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>Educational Device</b><br /><div>My philosophy when using technology has always been, "the right tool for the job." &nbsp;If I'm moving around the building to help a teacher, that tool will probably be my smartphone, an Android based HTC Evo. &nbsp;I can quickly add something to my to do list, snap a picture or shoot off an email. &nbsp;If I'm going to a meeting, it might be my iPad or laptop so I can take notes. &nbsp;Lately, it has been more likely that I will grab my laptop <i>instead</i> of my iPad and we're getting to why that is.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div>iPads? &nbsp;Chromebooks? &nbsp;MacBooks? &nbsp;Netbooks? &nbsp;Wind--- nevermind. &nbsp;I find myself constantly feeling like a hypocrite when I talk to others about which device would be "best" for the classroom. &nbsp;The iPad is very versatile in that the camera has many uses. &nbsp;The Apps are pretty much unlimited. &nbsp;The ability to <a href="http://edreach.us/2011/10/21/the-ipad-2-and-apple-tv-ed-tech-industry-killer/" target="_blank">AirPlay when connected to an AppleTV</a> in the classroom makes the iPad super attractive in terms of being a great teaching device. &nbsp;Hands down, this is a great device for the classroom.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.google.com/chromebook/" target="_blank">Chromebooks</a> from Google are also a viable classroom device, especially for those districts that have gone with Google Apps for Education. &nbsp;Any student can log in to any Chromebook and access all of the content that is contained in his/her Google account. &nbsp;The services just work and help to take out a lot of logistics (saving to a flash drive, having to email files home, saving on one computer in the school) that make for lost time. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-stY9vsX9N7M/Tr9U-0NJw_I/AAAAAAAAIBc/6R4JTc8Xizs/s1600/GAFE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-stY9vsX9N7M/Tr9U-0NJw_I/AAAAAAAAIBc/6R4JTc8Xizs/s200/GAFE.png" width="200" /></a></div><b>Educational Service</b><br /><a href="http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/edu/" target="_blank">Google Apps for Education</a> has really taken off. &nbsp;Many school district are "going Google" where students and staff are able to have a Google account that will let them access all the great features that fall under the Google umbrella. &nbsp;Apple doesn't have anything that's even remotely close to this. &nbsp;Apple has the iWork suite, but the functionality and flexibility provided by Google Docs far outweighs the current versions of iWork. &nbsp;I say versions, because you would think you could take a Pages file from the Mac and "iCloud" it to your iOS device, but you can't. &nbsp;I'm sure Apple is working to make this happen, but it's not there yet. &nbsp;Currently, Google Apps for Educations offers a lot for educational institutions and the cost is great for school districts (free). <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LxGskRR-0wc/Tr9Y6bDI3nI/AAAAAAAAIBs/dSq2idlowHY/s1600/boxing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LxGskRR-0wc/Tr9Y6bDI3nI/AAAAAAAAIBs/dSq2idlowHY/s320/boxing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/familymwr/5081609683/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_blank">source</a></span></div><b>The Problem</b><br />So, here in lies the problem. &nbsp;Google Apps for Education doesn't work well in the Safari browser on the iPad or iPod touch. &nbsp;Google Documents and Spreadsheets "kind of" work, but it's not a manageable solution. &nbsp;Recent speculation also suggests that <a href="http://thenextweb.com/apple/2011/11/06/how-apple-will-use-siri-maps-and-microsoft-to-divorce-itself-from-google/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheNextWebApplicious+%28TNW+Apple%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader" target="_blank">Apple is doing what it can to "divorce" itself from Google.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;<a href="http://9to5mac.com/2011/10/29/apple-acquired-mind-blowing-3d-mapping-company-c3-technologies-looking-to-take-ios-maps-to-the-next-level/" target="_blank">reportedly bought a "map" company</a>&nbsp;with speculation being that they are trying to get Google's mapping services off iOS devices. &nbsp;The "divorce" article linked above also states that Apple might use Bing as search results for Siri, the iPhone 4S voice assistant. &nbsp;Siri-ously?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cz2vih9uZts/Tr9WzC72ijI/AAAAAAAAIBk/Ot1rSL_PmMk/s1600/prayer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cz2vih9uZts/Tr9WzC72ijI/AAAAAAAAIBk/Ot1rSL_PmMk/s200/prayer.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://heritagechristianlife.org/custompages/images/prayer.png" target="_blank">source</a></span></div><b>The Plea</b><br />As an educator, it is very frustrating to see two companies that both offer great products for education to be so far away from making something beautiful. &nbsp;If Google Apps for Education worked on the Safari iOS browser like it does on the desktop, then both parties would be in an <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23eduwin" target="_blank">#eduwin</a> situation. &nbsp;Google's services would be utilized by students that would grow up and hopefully seek out <a href="http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/business/index.html" target="_blank">Google Apps for Business</a> as a viable solution for their companies. &nbsp;Those same future entrepreneurs would see how versatile the Apple products are and no doubt continue to purchase them. <br /><br />I heard or read somewhere that both companies say it is the other's "fault" that Google Apps won't work on the iPad. &nbsp;I would hope that two companies that claim to put education at such a high standard could work together to find a way for these two products/services to work together. &nbsp;Both have nothing to lose and everything to gain. <br /><br />So, in closing ... Please, Apple and Google, find a way to make some beautiful magic for the educational arena by allowing Google Apps for Education to work seamlessly on the iOS platform like it does on the desktop computer. &nbsp;Both of you will come out winners. &nbsp;Do it for the children.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">-----------------------------</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><center><iframe frameborder="0" height="400" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/embeddedform?formkey=dHZaWmNtdVF3MXdCbkpXY2NfZUtkQkE6MQ" width="600"></iframe></center><br /><center><img src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/oimg?key=0AlBAdDjABfRPdHZaWmNtdVF3MXdCbkpXY2NfZUtkQkE&amp;oid=3&amp;zx=nd0x763u9hyv" /><br /></center></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2011/11/apple-google-get-along.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-4284390975195257272Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:30:00 +00002011-11-11T14:07:56.569-06:00GoogleGoogle AppsGoogle Multiple Sign-In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lTuHXVNgaNk/Tr182mFzKiI/AAAAAAAAIA0/8nAPSdwAFco/s1600/google+multi+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lTuHXVNgaNk/Tr182mFzKiI/AAAAAAAAIA0/8nAPSdwAFco/s320/google+multi+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>With many school districts "going Google," some educators are finding that they might have multiple Google accounts. &nbsp;Switching between these can be frustrating in your browser, but&nbsp;fortunately, Google has a built-in feature that users can turn on called Multiple Sign-In. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/answer.py?answer=181599" target="_blank">Google's directions for turning this on are here.</a><br /><br />For those that need to see some visuals, the steps for turning this on are outlined below...<br /><br />Go to the&nbsp;<a href="https://accounts.google.com/b/0/MultipleSessions" target="_blank">Multiple&nbsp;Sessions Sign-In Page</a> and log in with one of your Google accounts.<br /><div><br /></div><div>If you logged in to a PERSONAL account, you might be at the Account Overview page (shown below). &nbsp;Look for MULTIPLE SIGN-IN and<b> click EDIT.</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-__TeY8enpVU/Tr15r-O-GnI/AAAAAAAAIAU/eu71eD43jys/s1600/GoogleSignIn0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-__TeY8enpVU/Tr15r-O-GnI/AAAAAAAAIAU/eu71eD43jys/s640/GoogleSignIn0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you logged in to your Google Apps for Education account OR after you click EDIT from a personal Account Overview page, you will get to a page that looks like this....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ib0P33d7ZXs/Tr15_hrU3yI/AAAAAAAAIAc/bbt7wvG2jjQ/s1600/GoogleSignIn1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ib0P33d7ZXs/Tr15_hrU3yI/AAAAAAAAIAc/bbt7wvG2jjQ/s640/GoogleSignIn1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Click ON</b> for Multiple Sign-In and then <b>click SAVE.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After saving your choice, click on your Google account name on the top right and <b>choose SIGN OUT.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Go BACK to the&nbsp;<a href="https://accounts.google.com/b/0/MultipleSessions" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">Multiple&nbsp;Sessions Sign-In Page</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">&nbsp;and log in to ANOTHER Google account.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Repeat the same process as above and turn on "Multiple Sign-In" for this account and then sign-out when finished.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">What will happen now going forward is that when signed in to one of your accounts, you can go up and click on your Google account name in the top right of the browser and choose <b>SWITCH ACCOUNT</b> (shown below) to easily switch to another account.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-baYsChWmGAQ/Tr16m8HU_WI/AAAAAAAAIAk/G0R3cB9sKlk/s1600/GoogleSignIn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-baYsChWmGAQ/Tr16m8HU_WI/AAAAAAAAIAk/G0R3cB9sKlk/s320/GoogleSignIn2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After choosing SWITCH ACCOUNT, you will see your other accounts listed that have Multiple Sign-In enabled (shown below). &nbsp;If for some reason you don't see your account, you can click the choice that says "Sign in to another account" and after entering the credentials for that other account, it should show there in the future. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ZLNM_YifTc/Tr16xmehbFI/AAAAAAAAIAs/4LmiiCYZ03s/s1600/GoogleSignIn3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ZLNM_YifTc/Tr16xmehbFI/AAAAAAAAIAs/4LmiiCYZ03s/s320/GoogleSignIn3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Once that is all set up it's very easy to SWITCH accounts in your browser! &nbsp;As a tip, <u><b>always</b></u> pay attention to <b><i>which</i></b> account is showing on the top right of the browser in the black bar to know which account you're in. &nbsp;And if you switch accounts on that tab, it sometimes might not switch accounts on the other tabs you have open so make sure to close all other tabs as to not confuse the browser. &nbsp;</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>BONUS TIP: &nbsp;</b></span><br /><br />In <a href="http://www.google.com/chrome" target="_blank">Chrome</a>, you can open a separate window that is totally independent of the account you're currently logged into. This is called the INCOGNITO window. &nbsp;Go to <b>FILE &gt; NEW INCOGNITO WINDOW </b>(or CMD+SHIFT+N as a shortcut) and a separate window with a "blue" border will open. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PvqIoLWAH9Q/Tr1-8BvBesI/AAAAAAAAIA8/1izRktaWhkc/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-11-11+at+2.00.21+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PvqIoLWAH9Q/Tr1-8BvBesI/AAAAAAAAIA8/1izRktaWhkc/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-11-11+at+2.00.21+PM.png" /></a></div><br /><br />The little icon of the spy in the corner tells you that this is the "incognito" window. :) &nbsp;This is great for doing demos or showing students how to log into an account without having to log out of an account that you currently have open. &nbsp;Screenshot below.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kGemyqBj8yY/Tr1_Jjxos9I/AAAAAAAAIBE/xjBAH9Eae1U/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-11-11+at+2.01.17+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kGemyqBj8yY/Tr1_Jjxos9I/AAAAAAAAIBE/xjBAH9Eae1U/s640/Screen+shot+2011-11-11+at+2.01.17+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2011/11/google-multiple-sign-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-2308271632775392314Fri, 04 Feb 2011 20:25:00 +00002011-02-04T14:26:47.743-06:00GoogleGoogle EarthHow ToprojectsGoogle Earth Navigating Activity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TUxgSk_LEQI/AAAAAAAAFkw/SStrI1T4W1I/s1600/Google_Earth_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TUxgSk_LEQI/AAAAAAAAFkw/SStrI1T4W1I/s200/Google_Earth_logo.png" style="cursor: move;" width="168" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Working with a 7th Grade Social Studies teacher on using Google Earth for the first time with students. &nbsp;Our final product will involve Lewis &amp; Clark's expedition and having students create a Google Earth file with pins for locations from the trek. &nbsp;</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As a "Getting Started" activity, we are going to have students using this handout and possibly the links below to learn how to&nbsp;<b><u>NAVIGATE</u></b>&nbsp;around in Google Earth. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Helpful Links:</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><ul><li><a href="http://www.google.com/earth/learn/beginner.html#navigation"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Google Earth Navigation Tutorial</span></a></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.google.com/earth/learn/beginner.html#searching-for-places">Google Earth Searching For Places Tutorial</a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.google.com/earth/learn/beginner.html#searching-for-places"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&amp;pid=explorer&amp;chrome=true&amp;srcid=0B1BAdDjABfRPNTcwMTIwMGYtMDRiMy00NWZlLTgwMDEtYWUyY2Y4MjY5MmIw&amp;hl=en">Handout for Students</a></b></span></li></ul><div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Please share any projects or ideas you have for using Google Earth!</i></span></div></div></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2011/02/google-earth-navigating-activity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-416917759494434907Sat, 23 Oct 2010 01:41:00 +00002010-10-22T22:05:53.373-05:00GoogleGoogle DocsHow ToGoogle Spreadsheets for Voting Collection<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TMJMFEBPs5I/AAAAAAAAFDs/snPl9LpjqgQ/s1600/VotingSpreadsheet.png"></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TMI-b6DjdhI/AAAAAAAAFCk/E6keLwZwtuA/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-22+at+8.45.20+PM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 129px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TMI-b6DjdhI/AAAAAAAAFCk/E6keLwZwtuA/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-22+at+8.45.20+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531051941525943826" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Our middle school ran elections this week for Student Council officers. The Advisor of Student Council and I worked up an idea where videos of the candidates giving speeches would be placed in the shared drive so staff could show the videos during Home Room. Votes would be taken and then staff would enter the votes per candidate on a Google Spreadsheet. This went over very well so I wanted to share how we set up the Google Spreadsheet so others could use this idea in the future. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >First up, you need a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ARk3XruWcQ">FREE Google Account.</a> The video below shows how to sign up for a Google Account. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><center><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2ARk3XruWcQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x2b405b&amp;color2=0x6b8ab6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2ARk3XruWcQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x2b405b&amp;color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></center><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Once you have a Google Account, you can access the Google Docs suite by going to <a href="http://docs.google.com/">http://docs.google.com</a> or if you're already logged in and at a Google site, you can find "Documents" on the top left menu of the page as shown below.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TMJBYN9_VXI/AAAAAAAAFCs/GNTOlpoc3D0/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-22+at+8.58.11+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531055176686720370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 128px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >When logged in to Google Docs, create a new spreadsheet by going to CREATE NEW > SPREADSHEETS.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TMJCBy3A8OI/AAAAAAAAFC0/UDtyT95ut8k/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-22+at+9.00.53+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531055890964213986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 153px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Set up and create the spreadsheet as you would like it to look. An example of what this could look like is below. A tip for creating a spreadsheet like this is to also use the FREEZE ROWS and FREEZE COLUMNS options under the TOOLS drop down menu. This will help if staff moves around in the spreadsheet so their names are still shown and so the candidates at the top are always shown. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TMJD1YLZtUI/AAAAAAAAFC8/4UFeVezzuMY/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-22+at+9.08.23+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531057876666791234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 117px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >To the right of the file name at the top of the spreadsheet is a link that says "Private to only me." Clicking this link shows who has rights to the file. Click CHANGE to change the rights as shown below. We chose the setting "Anyone with the link" which allowed an edit check box to appear at the bottom. We checked the "Allow anyone to edit (no sign-in required)." Choosing this made it so any teachers we emailed the link to could edit the spreadsheet without having to have a Google Account. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TMJFgkgAoBI/AAAAAAAAFDM/sONwzSsuRWA/s400/Screen+shot+2010-10-22+at+9.10.43+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531059718220455954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 151px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Clicking SAVE will take you back a window where there is now a web address that can be COPIED or you can click on links to share the link via GMail, Buzz, Facebook, or Twitter. Getting the link out to staff was easy; we sent the link to our teacher email list and explained that teachers would enter the votes at the end of the day.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TMJI61Iwh2I/AAAAAAAAFDU/SH1EVZOWEKI/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-22+at+9.26.11+PM.png"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TMJI61Iwh2I/AAAAAAAAFDU/SH1EVZOWEKI/s400/Screen+shot+2010-10-22+at+9.26.11+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531063467897816930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 172px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >From what we could tell, only the "owner" of the file can get to this link. Editors can not pass on the link to others. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >As a tip, I sent out a quick message to the staff letting them know that when they entered their information, they did not necessarily have to click a SAVE button. I attached the screenshot below and explained that the spreadsheet saves every few seconds as data is entered. If all the teacher's data was there and the save area shows "SAVED" and it says "a few seconds ago," then all is good!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TMJLWAiy7gI/AAAAAAAAFDk/Z1_I-stCARE/s1600/savedsecondsago.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TMJLWAiy7gI/AAAAAAAAFDk/Z1_I-stCARE/s400/savedsecondsago.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531066133839539714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 234px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >It was great to pull up the spreadsheet while teachers were entering their data! According to <a href="http://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&amp;answer=44680">this article on the Google Docs help area</a>, 50 people can edit a file at once. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TMJMFEBPs5I/AAAAAAAAFDs/snPl9LpjqgQ/s400/VotingSpreadsheet.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531066942226412434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 201px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >This use of Google Docs worked great! My hope now is that teachers who weren't familiar with this type of use of Google Docs will be interested in using this again or possibly using this with their own classes.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/10/google-spreadsheets-for-voting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-3573894002727969924Wed, 13 Oct 2010 22:13:00 +00002010-10-13T17:44:06.923-05:00How ToReviewstechtoolsPublic Domain Clipart Website I Love!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLY0pdYTM9I/AAAAAAAAFB8/txbqzbqSavw/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-13+at+5.37.06+PM.png"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLYvIwokgrI/AAAAAAAAFA0/lEvwWX51Fik/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-13+at+5.12.57+PM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 109px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLYvIwokgrI/AAAAAAAAFA0/lEvwWX51Fik/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-13+at+5.12.57+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527657420184388274" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span">In this post, I want to share a tool that I've been using almost daily when creating handouts, lessons, presentations and the like. </span><a href="http://www.openclipart.org/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">OpenClipArt.org</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> is a site where users (anyone) can create and upload clipart to be used by others for absolutely free. It's a total community of those that just want to create and share images. You might be thinking, "how is that possible? Don't you have to cite where you got artwork from?" You do, but NOT if it's in the public domain. Here's a part of the </span><a href="http://www.openclipart.org/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">OpenClipArt.org</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><a href="http://www.openclipart.org/about"><b>ABOUT</b></a><b> </b><span class="Apple-style-span">page.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLYv5AU4rrI/AAAAAAAAFA8/mzqqiGTcUa0/s400/Screen+shot+2010-10-13+at+5.15.48+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527658249030512306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 100px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Another great benefit to using this site is that artwork is uploaded as PNG (think bitmap image like a .jpg or .bmp so you can use it in Word, PowerPoint or the like) or SVG (vector images for those that know how to use them in programs like Illustrator or Corel Draw). OpenClipArt.org offers a wiki and forum area for discussion with other artists. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">If you're interested in making your own clipart, they link to directions on how to do this using </span><a href="http://inkscape.org/doc/basic/tutorial-basic.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Inkscape</span></span></b></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span">(a FREE and open source graphic tool)</span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">So, how do you use the site? There's a few ways to find clipart. One way is to use the "Browse By Categories" box that is on the right side of the screen:</span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLYzbsmISGI/AAAAAAAAFBc/qH7Ufbb8hCc/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-13+at+5.31.34+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527662143564433506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 253px; " /></span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Right below that is an area for the "most popular tags" that uploaded clipart has been tagged with. Clicking on a tag brings up results that have that tag.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLYztz9aalI/AAAAAAAAFBk/4wP4Hue3Ahk/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-13+at+5.33.09+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527662454778784338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 175px; " /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I personally find that the quickest and easiest way to find clipart is to use the SEARCH BAR at the top right of the site...</span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLYxuiPBgOI/AAAAAAAAFBE/i_08LvVbZiw/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-13+at+5.23.00+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527660268177424610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 48px; " /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Search results come up...</span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLYx-Hva2KI/AAAAAAAAFBM/swWzfNZ-77U/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-13+at+5.25.33+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527660535943452834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 162px; " /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span">...and you can either click on a result you like OR you can go to the bottom and see if there are more pages available with more results like in the example above.</span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span">From here, I click on my result to go to just that piece of clipart I like.</span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLYyVijp3GI/AAAAAAAAFBU/OGv1llzKmZE/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-13+at+5.26.54+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527660938278853730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px; " /></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">At this point, there are a few options you can explore depending on what you want to do:</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span">If the image is big enough on this page, I will just click and hold on the image with my mouse and drag it to my Word document or PowerPoint slide or desktop (using a Mac). If using a PC computer, you can right-click on the image and choose to COPY. I'm done and can go on my way. This format is PNG.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span">If you need the image bigger, you can click the "Lossy: PNG" button and that will take you to a "full size" version of the image the way it was uploaded to the site by the creator. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span">If you are a graphics person and need the vector format, you can click the DOWNLOAD SVG button and get a copy of the file in SVG mode that you can take and altar and do what you want with</span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I really enjoy the FRESHness of the clipart (especially TECHNOLOGY clipart). The clipart is not just old, static images we've all seen a million times. Try this out as a way to spruce up your next project, assignment, presentation or lesson! Share and show this to students as well! They will enjoy the freshness of finding new clipart to have access to! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Leave some comments on if you like, don't like or any tips and tricks you've found! </span><a href="http://www.openclipart.org/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">OpenClipArt.org</span></span></b></a></div></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLY0pdYTM9I/AAAAAAAAFB8/txbqzbqSavw/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-13+at+5.37.06+PM.png"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLY0pdYTM9I/AAAAAAAAFB8/txbqzbqSavw/s200/Screen+shot+2010-10-13+at+5.37.06+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527663479509693394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 200px; " /></a><div><div> </div></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/10/public-domain-clipart-website-i-love.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-6332639213948142349Sun, 10 Oct 2010 03:59:00 +00002010-10-10T00:31:13.707-05:00AndroidGadgetsGoogleHow ToUsing Google Voice Search To Create My To Do List<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLE7sWMbwwI/AAAAAAAAE-k/YjYInUT0evw/s1600/actions%26label.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 135px; height: 113px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLE7sWMbwwI/AAAAAAAAE-k/YjYInUT0evw/s320/actions%26label.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526263850818323202" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I am always looking for new ways to better organize myself. Lately, I've been using my phone (<a href="http://now.sprint.com/firsts/evo4g/">Sprint EVO</a>), which runs on the <a href="http://www.android.com/">Android</a> operating system along with some of the built in features to create and keep my To Do List. I haven't found a really good "to do list" app that's simple, quick and efficient enough for my liking so I created an alternate way to keep my items organized. Explained easily, I tap my phone, talk into it as as "note to self" and send this as a transcribed email that automatically filters to a specific folder/label in my email. This folder/label is then set up as a shortcut on my phone for quick access. Still with me? :) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Setting this up involves using </span><b><a href="http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/08/just-speak-it-introducing-voice-actions.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Google Voice Search</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> and setting up your </span><b><a href="http://mail.google.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">GMail Account</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> to filter some messages to a specific "label." Read on and follow these steps if you wish to set up the same thing. Here's a step-by-step on how to set this up:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFCb5HEanI/AAAAAAAAE-s/u4oShd6BhbA/s320/GoogleVoiceSearch.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526271264714680946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 61px; " /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">1. Update Google Voice Search.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> Recently, Google released an update to their Google Voice Search that <a href="http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/08/just-speak-it-introducing-voice-actions.html">includes more actions</a>. You need to go into the market and download the newest Google Voice Search to get these actions, one of which is the "Note To Self" action. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> (</span></i><a href="http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/08/just-speak-it-introducing-voice-actions.html"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This blog post</span></i></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> from Google explains some of the new Voice Actions that were added. There's also a video that walks through and shows some good uses for these new actions.)</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFD0DVIBZI/AAAAAAAAE-0/EJxRVREJBho/s1600/GoogleToolbar.png"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFD0DVIBZI/AAAAAAAAE-0/EJxRVREJBho/s320/GoogleToolbar.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526272779286480274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 122px; " /></a></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2. Place Either Google Voice Search App or Google Search Widget On a Screen. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I personally have the Google Search widget (above) on my home screen for quick access since the microphone is right there. Great for a quick tap while driving and/or to record a "Note to Self." </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFE1bnVLtI/AAAAAAAAE-8/2Y7D66la_6Y/s320/SpeakNow.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526273902496788178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">3. Record Your First "Note to Self."</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> After installing the updated Google Voice Search, tap the microphone icon and the "Speak Now" window will appear. Start your speech with "Note to self." Example: "Note to self create powerschool screencast." The speech will be transcribed.</span></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFFGcPd8zI/AAAAAAAAE_E/4hJPefEFw10/s1600/SampleNote.png"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFFGcPd8zI/AAAAAAAAE_E/4hJPefEFw10/s320/SampleNote.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526274194722911026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">4. Double check transcription and send.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> The transcription of what you said will appear. You can manually tap on any part of the text to type and correct anything that's not properly understood. Click SEND when finished. This will go to your G-Mail email account.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">G-MAIL SETUP</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFLVn9k41I/AAAAAAAAFAk/WW94SX7MsNk/s320/imgres.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526281052636898130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 153px; " /></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The second part of this process is setting up G-Mail correctly. This part needs to be completed on your computer.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFGLCZBorI/AAAAAAAAE_M/jVZrGMmywbU/s1600/Gmail-SampleNote"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFGLCZBorI/AAAAAAAAE_M/jVZrGMmywbU/s320/Gmail-SampleNote" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526275373194650290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 90px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">1. Filter The "Note To Self" Email</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. Once you receive a "Note To Self" email from yourself, click on the message to see it. Click the MORE ACTIONS button (top right) and choose FILTER MESSAGES LIKE THESE.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFGXCr4MtI/AAAAAAAAE_U/rAvwLH6ejEo/s1600/Gmail-SearchCriteria"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFGXCr4MtI/AAAAAAAAE_U/rAvwLH6ejEo/s320/Gmail-SearchCriteria" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526275579432153810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 74px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>2. Add "Note To Self" to Search Criteria. </b> The first Filter settings you see relate to the origin of the message. Verify your email address is in the FROM area. In the SUBJECT area, type in Note To Self. This will make it so messages from "you" with the subject "Note To Self" will have this filter applied. Click NEXT STEP.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFGymCzphI/AAAAAAAAE_c/r46mR_3VbzM/s1600/Gmail-ActionSettings.png"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFGymCzphI/AAAAAAAAE_c/r46mR_3VbzM/s320/Gmail-ActionSettings.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526276052780033554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 112px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">3. Choose Action Settings.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> On the next screen, you choose what should happen to the message. Check the following:</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Skip the Inbox (Archive It)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Mark As Read</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Apply the Label</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Also apply this filter to xx conversations below </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">(checking this will make it so any other "Note To Self" emails will also have these actions performed. If this is your first "Note To Self" email, checking or unchecking this option doesn't really matter.)</span></i></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">After checking APPLY THE LABEL, click the drop down menu next to this choice and choose NEW LABEL. Title the label <i>Note To Self</i>. Click CREATE FILTER when finished.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The G-Mail setup is now complete. Any messages that come to G-Mail from your email address with the subject Note To Self will now automatically skip your inbox and sort to the label <i>Note to Self.</i> Having the email "marked as read" also makes it so the label doesn't show a number for unread messages.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">ADD G-MAIL LABEL SHORTCUT TO YOUR PHONE</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFLJze-FUI/AAAAAAAAFAc/LMLoEVrUs2s/s1600/imgres-1.jpeg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFLJze-FUI/AAAAAAAAFAc/LMLoEVrUs2s/s320/imgres-1.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526280849571321154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 169px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFK1qbHYWI/AAAAAAAAFAU/GrWg27s37Y0/s1600/Android-Notes.png"></a></span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Follow the steps below to add a shortcut for your Note To Self label in your email to make your "to do list" easy and quick to access.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFI44jrVjI/AAAAAAAAE_k/C0eJPUJ7SXM/s320/Shortcut.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526278359852209714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">1. Add Shortcut</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. Click the + button on your phone home screen (or whatever button you press to add a shortcut to your phone screens). Choose SHORTCUT.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFJGFMOmEI/AAAAAAAAE_s/EsjzSkqh0WA/s320/GmailLabel.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526278586581817410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 162px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2. Choose Gmail Label. </span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFJjit6_8I/AAAAAAAAE_0/giUEO_l8T6o/s320/GmailAccount.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526279092723974082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 138px; " /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">3. Choose Gmail account</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. If you hare more than one Gmail account associated with your phone, choose the one where your Note To Self emails are going. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFJ9tVc7CI/AAAAAAAAFAE/9gFCKl_jf1c/s1600/ChooseLabel.png"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFJ9tVc7CI/AAAAAAAAFAE/9gFCKl_jf1c/s320/ChooseLabel.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526279542250728482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 125px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFJyUYbjdI/AAAAAAAAE_8/Y3illktPOAY/s1600/TitleLabel.png"></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">4. Choose Note To Self Label.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> After choosing the email account, scroll down and find the Note To Self label and tap it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFJyUYbjdI/AAAAAAAAE_8/Y3illktPOAY/s1600/TitleLabel.png"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFJyUYbjdI/AAAAAAAAE_8/Y3illktPOAY/s320/TitleLabel.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526279346573774290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 152px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">5. Name the Label Shortcut.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> You can now name your label shortcut whatever you want. I chose to name mine <i>To Do List.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFKdZ35l5I/AAAAAAAAFAM/IvQ43JCfUyo/s1600/ToDoListIcon.png"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFKdZ35l5I/AAAAAAAAFAM/IvQ43JCfUyo/s320/ToDoListIcon.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526280086782318482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 127px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">6. Place Label On Screen. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> You can now place the new label where you want.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFK1qbHYWI/AAAAAAAAFAU/GrWg27s37Y0/s1600/Android-Notes.png"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TLFK1qbHYWI/AAAAAAAAFAU/GrWg27s37Y0/s320/Android-Notes.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526280503541850466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 142px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">7. What's it look like? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">You have now set up a fully automated system for keeping track of your To Do List items.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">A</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">s you send yourself Note To Self emails, you can quickly access them by tapping on your To Do List G-Mail label. You can also click the checkmark next to any messages and DELETE them as you complete your tasks. <i>(Note: Messages do stay in chronological order in the order in which they were received.)</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><i>DISCLAIMER</i></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><i>: As you record your Note to Self items, you will get looked at funny by others. All part of using the tech in a way that's GEEKY! :)</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">That's pretty much it. A little involved process but the payoffs for me were worth it. Using this as my TO DO LIST doesn't offer some features like some other apps (color coding, prioritizing, categorizing, etc) but I just wanted something simple and quick. I personally like being able to just "say" the Note To Self item into my phone to save time. 90% of the time, the transcription is spot on. Please leave comments below if this helps you out or if you have other tips to offer related to this post.</span></div><div> </div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/10/using-google-voice-search-actions-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-1416994225438915248Sat, 09 Oct 2010 01:42:00 +00002011-04-26T14:15:17.278-05:00AppleHow ToReviewstechtoolsUsing Quicktime Player To Make ScreenCasts<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TK_KjjRu1xI/AAAAAAAAE9U/9yBcUCxmzIw/s1600/quicktime+logo.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525857979920733970" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TK_KjjRu1xI/AAAAAAAAE9U/9yBcUCxmzIw/s320/quicktime+logo.png" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 212px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The new version of Quicktime Player comes with a GREAT feature that I have been using a lot lately. I learned about this at the <a href="http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/08/apple-academy-2010-reflection.html">Apple Academy</a> I attended in August. You can create ScreenCasts (or Screen Recordings) for demo purposes in regular (free!) Quicktime Player. Here's some getting started points and tips for using.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525861485186521810" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TK_NvlaOGtI/AAAAAAAAE90/MD-MJBAKgKw/s320/quicktime2.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 87px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To get started, launch Quicktime Player. Go to <b>FILE &gt; NEW SCREEN RECORDING</b>. This will bring up a Recording widget (below). Before pressing record, you can click the arrow to the right of the record button and choose the microphone you will be using. You can chose "Built in Microphone" if just using the microphone on the Mac. If you connect a microphone, the microphone will display here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525861314275547474" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TK_Nlot3mVI/AAAAAAAAE9s/ves2vwxTfus/s320/quicktime3.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 83px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>As soon as recording starts, a "Stop Recording" button will appear in the top title bar of the desktop. This is where you will click to end the recording. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525862649368604594" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TK_OzWU277I/AAAAAAAAE98/rIN2NaSzUAk/s320/quicktime4.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 50px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 212px;" /></span></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b><i>IDEA:</i></b><i> I usually have a PowerPoint screen that I go to as a "title slide" to start off my screencast. I trim out the very beginning and very end of the video after I'm done recording (more below). When I go into presentation mode in PowerPoint, I show my title slide and then press COMMAND+H to "hide" PowerPoint so it goes to my desktop or whatever program is open that I am making a screencast for.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525866823862611746" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TK_SmVhybyI/AAAAAAAAE-c/JPPVWztGryU/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-08+at+9.24.36+PM.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 172px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>After clicking the Stop Recording button, the video is instantaneously done. I used to use Snapz Pro X for screen recordings and the rendering process when finished with the recording would take way too long. The video saves as "Screen Recording.mov" to the MOVIES area of the Mac by default <i>(see below)</i></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TK_PmwRC8dI/AAAAAAAAE-E/gl61133v84o/s1600/quicktime6.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525863532505264594" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TK_PmwRC8dI/AAAAAAAAE-E/gl61133v84o/s320/quicktime6.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 103px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">When the movie is open, you can TRIM the video from the sides and then save the video. Do this by clicking on the arrow icon on the bottom right of the window. From here you can choose to SHARE the file to online services like MobileMe or YouTube. You can also choose to TRIM the video.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525864116911878274" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TK_QIxWcMII/AAAAAAAAE-M/pP8UKdoskkY/s320/quicktime5.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 145px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 233px;" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;">Choosing to TRIM brings up the yellow sliders similar to iMovie where you can drag in from the sides to trim out what you don't need at the beginning or the end. Make sure to SAVE or FILE &gt; SAVE AS your video when finished trimming.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TK_Qox6By0I/AAAAAAAAE-U/6E8FhZaTMDU/s1600/quicktime7.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525864666816957250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TK_Qox6By0I/AAAAAAAAE-U/6E8FhZaTMDU/s320/quicktime7.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 204px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And that is how you make a screen recording. I try to be as concise and to the point as possible to keep the video as short as possible. Ask yourself if you would take the time to watch the video you made. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">One glitch I have come across and I'm looking for some help in fixing -- When I have been uploading my videos to YouTube, the video is going faster than the audio in the rendered YouTube video. As an example, a 3:39 movie I upload will render as 2:16 so the audio does not match the video. To try and fix this, I have opened the video in Quicktime Player and gone to FILE &gt; SAVE AS and tried changing the format to things like iPhone, Apple TV, 480p, 720p, 1080p, etc. I haven't found one specific format that works. Please leave a comment below if you have found a good conversion for the Quicktime Movie that will work perfectly.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I hope this video helps you make some demos or screencasts for your staff, peers or students. I upload </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/chadkafka?feature=mhum">my demos to YouTube</a><span class="Apple-style-span"> if you'd like to see some examples. Enjoy!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">UPDATED TIP:</span></b> &nbsp;After a few months of playing around with this, I have found a great SPACE SAVER tip. &nbsp;I record videos for my students to watch and put the videos in a folder on our STUDENT network so students can get to the videos. &nbsp;The default screen recording size for Quicktime is rather large! &nbsp;I was putting videos on the student network that were 200 or 300MB which can cause a lot of problems. &nbsp;A way around this? &nbsp;When finished with your video, go to FILE &gt; SAVE AS and change the 'format' drop down window to COMPUTER. &nbsp;This saves the video at 'computer' quality and takes out a lot of file space. &nbsp;You don't really recognize the loss in quality as everything still plays fine for the students and with less file size, the changes of the videos "skipping" goes down. &nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/10/using-quicktime-player-to-make.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-4167681461292396784Sun, 22 Aug 2010 04:51:00 +00002010-08-22T00:55:11.999-05:00AppleReviewsthoughtsApple Academy 2010 Reflection<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TG67HMkXvPI/AAAAAAAAE4w/WCLW5Xk1j-A/AppleAcademyLogo.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 148px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TG67HMkXvPI/AAAAAAAAE4w/WCLW5Xk1j-A/AppleAcademyLogo.png" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></u></div><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">WHAT</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">IS</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">APPLE ACADEMY?</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I was alerted by an Apple Development Executive I know back in the spring that he had nominated me to apply for the "Apple Academy" that would take place in the summer of 2010. I wasn't exactly sure what Apple Academy was. I was familiar with the Apple Distinguished Educator program and found out that this was not that. What it turned out to be was 95 selected educators from around the country that would come to Cupertino, California and learn as much as you could about Apple's tools, programs and methods for educating students. I found out I was accepted and eagerly awaited August 15 when I would fly out to California.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">WHAT </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">WAS</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> APPLE ACADEMY?</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I write this post just one day after getting back from California and my head is still buzzing. There were 18 of us at this section of the Apple Academy. We were the 5th and final Apple Academy for this year. </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Peter Tullio</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> (K-12 Education Marketing for Apple) and </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Pete Vraspir</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> (Trainer) did an excellent job leading and equipping us with knowledge that we could apply in the classroom. We worked on parts of an overall project all week around the topic of Mars. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">All the materials (pictures, videos, scripts, documents) were created ahead of time so we could use the Apple tools to go through the motions for how these pieces of a project could be enhanced. I enjoy learning "hands on" so this was very helpful to already have the research and the basics covered so we could go deeper into the programs. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We were also able to offer ideas, suggestions and "feature requests" directly to Apple as we used these products. I found this to be very empowering as I have used the iLife suite extensively and was able to offer some insight from my role as an educator on how the tools could be enhanced or tweaked. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/THC7EqPLKWI/AAAAAAAAE5k/BKp7Lxm2b4I/doors.jpg"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/THC7EqPLKWI/AAAAAAAAE5k/BKp7Lxm2b4I/doors.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 175px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We visited the Apple Headquarters campus (aka, "the mothership") at 1 Infinite Loop on Tuesday for lunch. It was very exciting to see the main headquarters and the people there. I am a big fan of the "California dress code" as they don't really dress up much to go to work! :) The campus was gorgeous and Cafe Macs (food area) had everything possible you could imagine. No Steve Jobs sightings unfortunately though we did learn that he doesn't have license plates on his car and we could see where his office was from the commons area.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">WHAT </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I HAVE LEARNED</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> THIS WEEK?</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The week was set up very well and followed this schedule: </span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Day 1 - Foundations:</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We learned how the week would work. We would be keeping our information on an isolated OS X Wiki server so we explored how to use that. We looked at some tips/tricks in the Finder and explored how our iPad and iPod Touch were set up for us to use this week.</span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Day 2 - iWork:</span></span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> In short, we explored the iWork suite (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) on the iPad and on the MacBook. Our projects for the week were based around information collected on the planet Mars.</span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Day 3 - iLife:</span></span></span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> We explored the iLife suite (iPhoto, GarageBand, iMovie and iWeb)</span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Day 4 - Curriculum:</span></span></span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We went through the areas of Math, Science, Humanities, Language Literacy and Special Education and learned some ways and resources to teach in these areas with Apple tools.</span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Day 5 - Taking It Home</span></span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">: This half day was centered around reflecting, wrapping things up, packaging up our files to take home and also to start thinking about how we would share out what we had learned.</span></span></span></span></li></ul></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The information I learned is too much to put into one blog post. I'll talk in the next section about HOW I will be using this information. As for what I learned? I learned many new ways to engage the teachers I work with and the students I teach. I learned that some of Apple's tools were created with the educator and student in mind and I'm excited to share that with others.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Below is my video reflection that was our "homework" for Day 2. We spent a lot of time on Mars (which comes through in the video) and I also decided to have some fun with our two instructors for the week Peter and Pete. :)<br /><br /></span></span><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><object width="400" height="305"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QPSC9kqyFj4?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;color1=0x2b405b&amp;color2=0x6b8ab6&amp;border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QPSC9kqyFj4?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;color1=0x2b405b&amp;color2=0x6b8ab6&amp;border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="305"></embed></object></center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">WHAT IS </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">MY PLAN</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> FOR SHARING WHAT I'VE LEARNED WITH OTHERS?</span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I'm most excited to share what I learned this past week with the students I will be teaching in my 8th Grade New Media and Computer Applications classes. I'm also excited to share this information with teachers so they can pass on what they learn to their students. I did a lot of sharing over Twitter while I was at the Apple Academy using the </span></span></span><a href="http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23appleacademy"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">#appleacademy</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> tag so if my tweets are still there, you can learn some of what I was learning real time! </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Part of attending the Academy is creating a portfolio which I will be doing on my website to share out what I learned. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I teach and lead various workshops for my district and various groups I work with so I'm excited to incorporate some of what I have learned into my presentations. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I also plan to share out some of the tips here in my blog when I can find the time to synthesize the information in a way that will benefit the reader.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">CONCLUSION</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Overall this week was very empowering for a few reasons:</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The network of Apple Academy attendees is starting with these 95 people from this summer and will be growing.</span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The group I worked with at my section of the Apple Academy was very interested in continued networking which only helps me to personally develop my Professional Learning Network.</span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The knowledge gained on these tools was very extensive and I even learned more on things I thought I already knew a lot about like the iLife suite.</span></span></span></span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I'm very grateful to have attended this excellent event and look forward to continued networking with the group I spent time with this week. Below is a link to my photo album from the week.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=471694&amp;id=507225471&amp;l=a6b8596b64"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Apple Academy 2010 Photo Album</span></span></a></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; "><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TG67cpz4_EI/AAAAAAAAE44/Hrw6tEgMZOg/s640/IniniteLoopGroup.jpg"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TG67cpz4_EI/AAAAAAAAE44/Hrw6tEgMZOg/s640/IniniteLoopGroup.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 200px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- white-space: normal; font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- font-family:Times;font-size:medium;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:15px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/08/apple-academy-2010-reflection.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-5308112234520082361Sat, 29 May 2010 15:32:00 +00002010-05-29T11:45:36.716-05:00GooglethoughtsGoogle Teacher Academy Reflection<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TAE1yIupNmI/AAAAAAAAEL0/jSKh4WOT4FQ/s1600/gtc-small.png" style="text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TAE1yIupNmI/AAAAAAAAEL0/jSKh4WOT4FQ/s320/gtc-small.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476717757312087650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 139px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Part of the <a href="http://www.google.com/educators/gta.html">Google Teacher Academy</a> process is to write a final reflection on the process so what follows are some of my thoughts and feelings. I heard about <a href="http://www.google.com/educators/gta.html">Google Teacher Academy</a> initially through my professional learning network (PLN) on Twitter. I had seen others posting about it and decided to check it out. Aside from filling out some information about yourself and answering some questions about how you will use what your learn at the GTA, part of the process involved making a 1 minute video around the theme "Motivation &amp; Learning" or "Classroom Innovation." I like making videos so I brainstormed for a little while and decided to put together my video as a movie trailer for tools that could be used to enhance learning in the classroom. Here's my video:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><object width="360" height="280"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/q3pLwLHRGyE&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/q3pLwLHRGyE&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="360" height="280"></embed></object><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;">ACCEPTANCE</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I found out sometime in November that I was 1 of 50 selected to attend GTA in Washington, DC in December. We would find out later that about 350 people applied. What followed was a flurry of posts to Twitter from myself and others all using the #gtadc tag and a majority of the group found each other before even setting foot in Washington, DC! We even planned a meet up at a local restaurant the night before GTA which was a nice lead-in to to the two days we would spend together.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My initial gut reaction going in was, "Okay, what are they going to try and sell me?" I had heard of the <a href="http://www.google.com/a/help/intl/en/edu/alloftheabove.html">Google Apps</a> suite and wondered if this was just going to be a sales-type pitch to get my district to use it. I would come to find out there wasn't a hidden agenda and there's really nothing to "sell" because Google Apps is free for education. :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">THE ACADEMY</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">GTA was held at the Google offices in Washington, DC for a day and a half. When people ask me how it was and what did I learn, I can only answer as a fellow colleague <a href="http://twitter.com/iteachag">Danny Silva</a> at the academy answered, "It was like they turned on the fire hose of information and shot it at me and didn't let up." The sessions we attended were all great. I loved how we all had our laptops out and had multiple windows open to test what they were showing, take notes for later and share our knowledge on social networks. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">DAY 1 &amp; 1/2 &amp; A PROJECT</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Part of this GTA that made it different from others was that the organizers allowed for a second "half" day that had no set agenda. Those that wanted could stay and as a group we would decide how they day would run. We had free run of the rooms at the Google offices for holding an in-depth training on a specific topic or tool or for networking with others. I personally did a little of both. Part of becoming a <a href="http://www.google.com/educators/gtc.html">Google Certified Teacher</a> is creating your action plan centered around how you will share what you learn from GTA with others. During some discussions with others, we came up with a project idea to create <a href="http://www.techtrainingwheels.com/">TechTrainingWheels.com</a> Through discussions we found that we all felt frustrated with how we each individually ended up creating videos or documents in our own district and wanted to make a place where like-minded tech trainers could post these videos and documents to help with not only Google tools, but any type of technology training. More hands = Less work. Our motto is "we will help you take the training wheels off." We just recently got the site up and running so be sure to check it out and see how you can contribute or share. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">FINAL REFLECTION &amp; WORK SINCE GTA</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">My time at GTA was great. I learned a lot and was challenged to keep up with the presenters which I personally like. I went in with the mindset for them to give me as much as they can while I'm here and they sure did. I also liked being challenged to share this with others. Since coming back, I have done two trainings in my school to share some of my knowledge. I also have been meeting with individuals or teams to show a tool that might make their lives easier. I presented at our state <a href="http://www.chadkafka.com/presentations/google">WEMTA conference</a> on using Google Apps in the Classroom. I was asked after that to present at a local Discovery Education program and two other districts this summer during their respective summer academies. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As for Google Apps, I signed up my district for but for now, it's me just learning the behind-the-scenes of it all. I'm struggling with how to open this up to others so it doesn't become a management headache for me. I also want to use with students so I have been reading up on other's challenges and pitfalls to know how to best move forward. My GTA time was very rewarding and I find that I am networking, learning and sharing more now than I was before attending GTA. The networking through our <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/google-certified-teachers">Google Certified Teacher Group</a> has been invaluable. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOU?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you are interested in following any of the other GCT's from the DC group, this is the <a href="http://twitter.com/#/list/misstizzy/gtadc-2009">GTA Twitter List</a>. If you want to keep on top of when the next GTA will be open, you can check the <a href="http://www.google.com/educators/index.html">Google for Educators</a> site and sign up there for their newsletter where they post such information. If you're curious, here is some information on what it means to be a <a href="http://www.google.com/educators/gtc.html">Google Certified Teacher</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TAFBnqNwlFI/AAAAAAAAEMU/fjB6wkiyZac/s1600/gta-pics.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/TAFBnqNwlFI/AAAAAAAAEMU/fjB6wkiyZac/s320/gta-pics.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476730771461936210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 294px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/05/google-teacher-academy-reflection.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-4073771317133711700Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:09:00 +00002010-04-06T10:46:17.402-05:00iPadReviewstechtoolsthoughtsiPad in the Classroom? Maybe.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S7tO8V-ZzdI/AAAAAAAAD0U/3aVdGLFXIfY/s1600/ipadclassroom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S7tO8V-ZzdI/AAAAAAAAD0U/3aVdGLFXIfY/s320/ipadclassroom.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457042172087487954" /></a>The question or topic I have been asked most often over the last week in relation to the <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipad/">iPad</a> has been, "so are you going to get one?" My answer? No. Not yet. This tends to surprise people as I like technology and I personally enjoy finding out ways to use new technology, especially in the classroom with teachers and students. Here are a few of my initial thoughts about the iPad being used in the classroom. <div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;">Functionality.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;"> </span> My biggest setback (until someone makes an app for that) is...how do you get files off the iPad? Easily? If students were to create something (type a paper, create a presentation, etc), they would have to use the iWork suite which includes Pages and Keynote. These are not bad programs at all, but I haven't seen an easy way for students to save their files off the iPad. There's no USB drive where you could connect a flash drive. I've heard some say, "well, you can email the file off as an email attachment." That's good, but if using as a class set, do you set up an individual email address for each iPad? Some have said, "you could use a program like <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/">DropBox</a> and set up the app on each iPad so they all connect to one account the teacher could get at for seeing student files. Maybe. I know the iPad can't be "networked" in a school building so that the iPad could see a central network or teacher folder. Hopefully this can be worked on.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;">Efficiency.</span></b> I like the iPad. I really do. You couldn't tear it out of my hands at the Best Buy demo table the other day (sorry to the guy waiting behind me huffing for a bit). In terms of efficiency, will this speed work up or slow work down? I didn't mind the touch keyboard on screen and found that it worked quite well, though I was not able to type as fast as I normally do on an actual keyboard. Some would say that the iPad is not supposed to be a "work computer" but I know I don't want to carry around a laptop and an iPad. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;">Content.</span> </b>The apps so far for the iPad have really impressed me (<a href="http://gizmodo.com/5507569/gizmodos-essential-ipad-apps">Gizmodo's must have apps list</a>). However, I think we are still a few months away from seeing apps that really make the iPad a "must have" as an all-in-one device. The iBook reader is great and I would definitely go for an iPad over a Kindle. I don't think any of these readers will ever "kill" books like many have predicted. I would love to see the iPad have all of a student's textbooks on the device so the student doesn't have to carry around so many books. I think this will open up reading for the younger generations and bridge a gap where kids will want to read so they can touch and use the technology. The <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/marvel-comics/id350027738?mt=8">Marvel Comics app</a> came out of nowhere and I've been playing with it on my iTouch and really like how smooth and inviting it is. I am excited to see some educational apps or tools that come out in the next year to really make this an "in the classroom" device.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;">Google Docs.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;"> </span> My biggest disappoint right now as I write this is that I can't use <a href="http://docs.google.com/">Google Docs</a> on the iPad. Google Docs, Spreadsheet and Presentation is free software from Google online and all you need to use it is a free <a href="http://google.com/accounts">Google Account</a>. I have been using Google Docs more and more recently to keep my files online so I can get to them from anywhere. I'm sure Google is working on a way for this to be possible and there are <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/02/google-tablet-pictures-mo_n_445572.html">rumors about Google making a "pad" of their own</a>.</div><div>That would be interesting. :)</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;">Other Drawbacks?</span> </b> Here are a few other things I've been thinking about as possible hurdles to using the iPad in the classroom.</div><div><ul><li>I've read you can't print from the iPad <i>(yet...someone will probably create a work around or app).</i> </li><li>The iPad doesn't have a camera <i>(I personally don't see this as a big drawback like some do)</i>. </li><li>The iPad won't let you see flash content when looking at websites <i>(I've read different thoughts on this and how it's some behind-the-scenes battle between Apple and Adobe. Apple wants those creating video/animation content to switch to the new HTML5 format. Thankfully, there is a built in app so you can see YouTube videos even though they are "flash" format.) </i> </li><li>Supposedly you can't multi-task between 2 apps or programs at the same time <i>(I'm sure this will change in the future and Apple is announcing the fourth version of the iPhone later this week so maybe this new version will contain some multitasking capabilities that will find their way on to the iPad).</i> </li></ul></div><div>Is the iPad supposed to replace the laptop? I don't think so, yet. Is it worth it enough if the iPad just replaces all the textbooks a student has to carry around? Maybe. Would kids love it if a teacher walked in with 30 iPads and they got to use them in class? You bet. But, how do we use them is the bigger question. There are a few logistics to still figure out so that the teachers and students using the devices are able to do so in a successful and meaningful way. </div><div><br /></div><div>The iPad is a great device that does fill a niche between a smart phone and a laptop but I think the next year or two will decide what that niche actually is. I am intrigued by the iPad and want to see how it can be used in a classroom setting with up to 30 students. Now, to just find the money to try all this out... :)</div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/04/ipad-in-classroom-maybe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-1653279758652096015Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:48:00 +00002010-03-25T15:39:12.490-05:00GoogletechtoolsEmbedding Google Calendar(s) in Other Sites<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S6u-ZU6xkvI/AAAAAAAADyk/oCnOsn-RJ9c/s1600/GoogleCalendarLogo.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 191px; height: 177px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S6u-ZU6xkvI/AAAAAAAADyk/oCnOsn-RJ9c/s320/GoogleCalendarLogo.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452661116183352050" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I did some training sessions this week for my staff on using </span><a href="http://www.wikispaces.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">wikispaces.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> to create your own classroom, department or house wiki. Many seemed to take some steps toward really seeing how having their own website/wiki could be beneficial. One of the questions I was asked a lot was, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"how do I put a Calendar in my wiki?"</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Some of our staff that have created a wiki have embedded a Google Calendar with assignments, class birthdays, tests, projects, and the like. This has gone over very well and what better way to help keep students organized. </span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our middle school works on a HOUSE system where there are 4-5 Core teachers that have the same kids in a "house." One House decided to create a single calendar for Math, single calendar for Social Studies, single calendar for Language Arts and so on. In the end, the staff only wanted to embed ONE calendar on the wiki that had all the Core class information on it that was color coded (see example below). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S6vBk0Q3FiI/AAAAAAAADys/73XX6TOT9rA/s320/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452664612110931490" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Great way to organize the information for the students. My advice if you do this is to have one staff member in the house or system create the calendars in Google Calendar and then SHARE each calendar to the other staff members so all staff members have editing rights. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here are some other resources I've accumulated along the way if you are interested in exploring Google Calendar more: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?hl=en&amp;answer=97699"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Google Calendar Getting Started Guide</span></span></a></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?hl=en&amp;answer=97699"></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/googlecalendar/tour.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; padding-right: 10px; background-position: 100% 50%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Google Calendar Tour</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - This walk through shows all the basics of Google Calendar.</span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://services.google.com/apps/resources/overviews_breeze/Calendar/index.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; padding-right: 10px; background-position: 100% 50%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Demo</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - This demo was created for potential Google Calendar customers who want to add Google Cal to their website. The walk through and explanations are really good.</span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://reviews.cnet.com/Master_Google_Calendar/4660-10165_7-6530989.html?hhTest=1" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; padding-right: 10px; background-position: 100% 50%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">CNet Review Video</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - CNet reviewed Google Calendar and walks through how to use and setup your own Google Calendar.</span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.expertvillage.com/video/72683_google-calendar-overview.htm" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; padding-right: 10px; background-position: 100% 50%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Expert Village Google Calendar Videos</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">-</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Expert Village has about 10 videos showing you all the features of Google Calendar. </span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=86393B62706987AD" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; padding-right: 10px; background-position: 100% 50%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Google Calendar Tutorial Videos</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - short videos that explain the features and functions for using Google Calendar.</span></span></span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I put together a </span><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/28927230/Google-Calendar-Embedding-Calendars"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">handout</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> explaining how to embed a SINGLE calendar or MULTIPLE calendars like the one above using Google Calendar. Feel free to take and use.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My life is centered around Google Calendar. Great for synching with mobile devices as well! Enjoy!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/03/embedding-google-calendars-in-other.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-3751869970229953675Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:59:00 +00002010-03-13T18:59:47.053-06:00thoughtsEdited (& Fixed) by the White House<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S5vVhaLt1YI/AAAAAAAADp4/G7bdNJOYN-Q/s1600-h/White_House_Logo.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S5vVhaLt1YI/AAAAAAAADp4/G7bdNJOYN-Q/s320/White_House_Logo.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448182944175609218" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Back in early March, I saw a message either on Facebook or Twitter from the White House asking "What does 21st Century Education mean to you?" </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They encouraged people to respond via Facebook or Twitter. I posted a quick "tweet" back not really thinking much of it.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />So today I was looking up something else and remembered that call out. Went to </span><a href="http://whitehouse.gov/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">White House.gov</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and found </span><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/03/05/what-a-21st-century-education-means-you"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">the article</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> they did with reader responses. I encourage you to check it out here and look under the Twitter responses area.<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S5w0hTn1doI/AAAAAAAADqQ/uhoI4bflVmg/s400/Picture+4.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448287396019140226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 47px; " /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was surprised and honored to think that my voice was one they chose from the masses. I remember looking on Twitter that day to see if others had responded and there were a whole slew of thoughts. I really feel the value of a 21st Century Education is what kids in today's society need to survive. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Funny Side Note: The title of this post comes from the fact that I was officially edited by The White House because here is the </span><a href="http://twitter.com/chadkafka/status/9908496038"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">original Twitter messag</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">e that I sent. They took out my "Create-Communicate-</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><wbr>Collaborate" mantra. :(<br /><br />Still - pretty cool to see my mug </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">on WhiteHouse.gov.<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">UPDATED:</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> So apparently after sharing my newfound fame on Twitter and Facebook today, The White House took notice and FIXED my Tweet and made mention at the bottom of their page for the inadvertent mistake (see below). I fully revoke my complaining. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S5wzrbl-eWI/AAAAAAAADqI/cgs2q7d2URA/s400/Picture+3.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448286470445889890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 76px; " /></span></div></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/03/edited-by-white-house.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-8452467358580336078Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:12:00 +00002010-02-28T21:25:01.030-06:00ReviewstechtoolsTwitterTopify - A Twitter Helper<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://topify.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 437px; height: 130px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3589/3367063531_fa4fc5a949.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Been a while since I have written a blog post. Been a busy winter with heading to <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/chadkafka/DisneyAnimals#">Disney last weekend</a> (some great animal shots from our time there), attending the <a href="http://www.iceberg.org/ice_conference/information">ICE 2010 Conference</a> this past week, and work. :) Wanted to write a quick blog post about Topify, which is a great Twitter add-on that will make your life more efficient when people "follow" or message you using Twitter<br /><br />I remembered hearing about <a href="http://topify.com/">Topify</a> a while back from friend/colleague <a href="http://twitter.com/taml17">Tammy Lind</a> and was reintroduced to it at the ICE Conference this past weekend by <a href="http://chadlehman.com/">Chad Lehman</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://topify.com/">Topify</a> works as follows. You sign up with <a href="http://topify.com/">Topify</a> (free) and they take care of emailing you notifications coming from your Twitter account. Now, why is this a bonus? Wouldn't this just be another annoying email in your email box aside from the ones you might get from <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a> already? Well, it would be another email except I use this now instead of my direct notifications from <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a> .<br /><br />When you receive a <a href="http://topify.com/">Topify</a> email that someone has followed you, you can choose to follow back, block or report as spam right from the email! This saves the hassle of having to go over to your <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a> account from your email, find the person and block them or follow them back. Screenshot of email below (from a spammer) shows some of the highlighted links that are right in the email.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S4qqW96il4I/AAAAAAAADjI/Hg1ha6QrJeg/s1600-h/topifyemail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S4qqW96il4I/AAAAAAAADjI/Hg1ha6QrJeg/s320/topifyemail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443350411184609154" border="0" /></a>Head to the <a href="http://topify.com/">Topify</a> website and watch their demo video and it explains how to set up their notifications. Part of the process involves putting their <a href="http://topify.com/">Topify</a> email address in your regular Twitter account email area so the messages funnel to you through <a href="http://topify.com/">Topify</a>.<br /><br />Overall great time saver and I can read a few tweets by the person now following me to see if I want to follow back right from the email. Thoughts? Anyone else use or use something similar?http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/02/topify-twitter-helper.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-5577624209166305Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:39:00 +00002010-01-31T22:22:55.991-06:00Google SitesCreating A Favicon For Your Google Site<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S2ZVmGL3oUI/AAAAAAAADI8/-3koO7uagbw/favions.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S2ZT-ltSefI/AAAAAAAADIg/gXGbbZITt8A/s1600-h/sites-icon-large.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S2ZT-ltSefI/AAAAAAAADIg/gXGbbZITt8A/s200/sites-icon-large.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433122335208143346" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">As I'm building my Google Site for <a href="http://www.chadkafka.com/">www.chadkafka.com</a> and also working on one for my church at <a href="http://www.underwoodchurch.org/">www.underwoodchurch.org</a>, I started to wonder how you get the little icon to appear before the web address. Through my Google searching, I came to find that this little icon is called a "Favicon." Here is how I made the Favicon for my Google Site.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S2ZVmGL3oUI/AAAAAAAADI8/-3koO7uagbw/favions.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 91px; " /></span></div><div><b>CREATE YOUR ICON AND CONVERT</b></div><div>Create your Favicon. I used Photoshop and made a simple square image. I started with 300 pixels by 300 pixels. When finished, I resized the image to 16px by 16px. The finished image I saved as a .JPG file. I then used the <a href="http://tools.dynamicdrive.com/favicon/">Dynamic Drive</a> website and uploaded my file there and clicked the CREATE ICON button. The file was converted to an .ICO file type and I was allowed to download it back to my computer as the file favicon.ico Once you have the file, you can then follow these steps to put it into your Google Site:</div><div><ol><li>Login to your Google Site</li><li>Click the MORE ACTIONS button (top right of screen)</li><li>Click MANAGE SITE</li><li>Click on ATTACHMENTS (on left menu)</li><li>If you see a favicon.ico file already there, click the checkbox for that file and then click the DELETE button at the top.</li><li>Click UPLOAD button</li><li>Click CHOOSE FILE button and browse to your customized favicon.ico file and click the <i>UPLOAD ATTACHMENT TO / top level</i> button</li><li>Click RETURN TO SITE and refresh your browser and your Favicon should display!</li></ol></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Special thanks to </span><a href="http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/sites/user?userid=02643176581033162274&amp;hl=en"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">stefan.apateanu</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in the Google Sites forum who provided some of the directions above.</span></div><div><br /></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/01/creating-favicon-for-your-google-site.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-5101666848665753015Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:33:00 +00002010-02-03T21:37:41.366-06:00GadgetsReviewsCanon SD780 IS Video/Photo Camera Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S2Op0wROtMI/AAAAAAAADHI/uLL-6EwGjpU/canonsd780is.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; display: block; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S2Op0wROtMI/AAAAAAAADHI/uLL-6EwGjpU/canonsd780is.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Within the past year, I purchased a <a href="http://store.theflip.com/UltraHD.aspx">Flip Cam Ultra HD</a> for video and I loved the simplicity with using it. A lot of the <a href="http://www.chadkafka.com/presentations/24-franklin">24 Franklin movie</a> we made was shot using the <a href="http://store.theflip.com/UltraHD.aspx">Flip Cam</a>. The only downside to the <a href="http://store.theflip.com/UltraHD.aspx">Flip Cam Ultra HD</a> was the fact that I couldn't choose a video size; everything has to be shot in HD which leads to really large file sizes. Don't get me wrong, the quality is great, but I don't always need HD video. <div><br /></div><div>For my still camera, I also own a <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&amp;fcategoryid=139&amp;modelid=11154">Canon Rebel XT</a> which is a DSLR camera with interchangeable lenses. I love my camera but it's a lot to carry around when I want to photograph things. </div><div><br /></div><div>For Christmas, my wife wanted to get me a nice handheld camera and I wanted this camera to also have the ability to do video like the Flip Cam did. First, she bought me the <a href="http://store.kodak.com/store/ekconsus/en_US/pd/Zi8_Pocket_Video_Camera/productID.156585800">Kodak Zi8</a> but after using it for a day or so, I realized I didn't like it. It was a video camera that took photos, but the photos were really just "still frames" of the video. There was no flash. There was no way to focus when taking still pictures. We ended up returning the <a href="http://store.kodak.com/store/ekconsus/en_US/pd/Zi8_Pocket_Video_Camera/productID.156585800">Kodak Zi8</a> and getting the <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&amp;fcategoryid=145&amp;modelid=18183#ModelDetailAct">Canon SD780 IS</a>. <div><br /></div><div>Love this camera. </div><div><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Features:</div><div><ul><li>The "IS" stands for Image Stabilization. This helps a lot because the camera is TINY and I have big hands so when taking a picture, even if I can't hold the camera that steady, the IS compensates for that.</li><li>The Video setting allows me to shoot video at 320, 640 or 1280. The Flip Cam doesn't give me a choice. I like being able to <i>choose</i> if I want video at HD or Standard Definition.</li><li>The still camera can shoot up to a 12 megapixel image. Granted, I don't really need anything that large, but having the capability is nice.</li><li>I bought an 8 GB SD card to put in the camera which should be enough space for what I want to do (could get 90 mins of Standard video if I needed it). I think I read the camera can take up to a 32 GB card.</li><li>Nice pinhole microphone on the front of the camera and it picks up sound pretty well.</li><li>Haven't tested this yet, but the camera has an HDMI output port so I could play video or show pictures to my nice HDTV. </li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Tech Stuff:</span><br /><ul><li>The Canon pics and videos download fine to iPhoto '09 and once the videos are in the iPhoto Library, you can see them in iMovie for video editing needs.<br /></li><li>The file format for the movie files was .MOV<br /></li><li>I did not test this on a Windows machine, so not sure how the files play with Windows Movie Maker.<br /></li></ul><div>Great product. Might not be a "flip" type camera but I really like this all in one video and still picture device. At the time of my purchase, the camera was on sale for $179. <a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/canon-powershot-sd780-is/4505-6501_7-33528993.html">CNET</a> has a review of the camera on their site. Here are a few links to where you can purchase if you are interested:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Canon+-+PowerShot+12.1-Megapixel+Digital+ELPH+Camera+-+Silver/9231208.p?skuId=9231208&amp;ci_src=14110944&amp;ci_sku=9231208&amp;ref=06&amp;loc=01&amp;id=1218063830760">Best Buy</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-SD780IS12-1-Stabilized-Black/dp/B001SER47Y">Amazon</a> / <a href="http://www.target.com/s/192-4653030-4503766?_encoding=UTF8&amp;search-alias=tgt-index&amp;keywords=canon%20sd780&amp;searchSize=30&amp;ref=sr_bx%5F1%5F1&amp;searchView=grid5&amp;searchNodeID=1038576&amp;searchPage=1&amp;searchRank=target104545">Target</a><br /><br />Here are some Photo Albums I created using the Canon SD780 IS:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/chadkafka/ArtMuseumMDMC#"><br />Milwaukee Art Museum</a> / <a href="http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=610091897805%3A743439747&amp;cm_mmc=site_email-_-new_site_share-_-core-_-View_photos_button">Lambeau Field Tour</a><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/01/canon-sd780-is-videophoto-camera-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-4807816798512054884Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:54:00 +00002010-01-27T05:20:24.308-06:00iPods in the ClassroomParent Letter for using iPhone/iTouch<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S1-sk27dHwI/AAAAAAAADHA/J7v_lK5dals/s1600-h/iphoneapps.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 160px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S1-sk27dHwI/AAAAAAAADHA/J7v_lK5dals/s320/iphoneapps.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431249424852262658" border="0" /></a><div>One of our 8th Grade Math teachers polled the students in his class and found out that all but 4 students had an iPhone or iTouch. This math teacher heard there were Graphing Calculator apps for the iTouch/iPhone. Below is a copy of the letter if you would like to take, use, adapt for your school. We found <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quick-graph/id292412367?mt=8">Quick Graph</a> which is a FREE graphing app. </div><div><br /></div><div>For those students that did NOT have an iPhone or iTouch, the math department had regular graphing calculators those students could use. We spent some time with the students discussing that the iTouch/iPhone should be used as a tool when in class and it was not time to text your friends or watch videos and if that was being abused, the tool would need to be put away. </div><div><br /></div><div>We sent home a parent letter to inform parents of what we were doing and to seek parent permission for students to bring/use the device in class. Feel free to take, alter and use this letter. The letter also contains directions on how to get <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quick-graph/id292412367?mt=8">Quick Graph.</a></div><a title="View ParentLetter-iTouch on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/25881449/ParentLetter-iTouch" style="margin: 12px auto 6px; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">ParentLetter-iTouch</a> <object id="doc_341034133982354" name="doc_341034133982354" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" style="outline-color: -moz-use-text-color; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium;" height="600" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=25881449&amp;access_key=key-1b844jhbqszxptfi2v3a&amp;page=1&amp;viewMode=list"> </object>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/01/parent-letter-for-iphone-or-itouch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-5210030500766100101Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:34:00 +00002010-01-26T21:09:17.556-06:00projectstechtoolsDoInk.com 7th Grade Math Project<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S1sOoNK1RTI/AAAAAAAADG4/T_t6-2WcZ0A/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 196px; height: 91px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/S1sOoNK1RTI/AAAAAAAADG4/T_t6-2WcZ0A/s200/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429949859617916210" /></a><br />As part of my role as Technology Coach in my district, I helped the 7th grade math team put together a geometry animation project that had two goals:<br /><br /><div><br /></div><div>1. Incorporate some technology into class</div><div>2. Meet some of the district ITLS (Info Tech &amp; Literacy Standards) that we recently deployed by grade level<div><div><br />This post contains all the materials we used so others can replicate this project.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">BACKGROUND:</span> 7th Math had just completed a unit on geometric transformations which included looking at shapes and understanding what the following are: <i>Rotation, Reflection, Dilation (change in size), and Translation</i>. The team had suggested some kind of "flip book" activity to have the students show a shape performing these operations. Through some recommendations from other tech integrators on Twitter, I came across <a href="http://www.doink.com/">www.doink.com</a><br /><br /><b>DoInk</b> <span style="font-style:italic;">(pronounced Do Ink, not "doink" like the students kept saying :)</span> allows you to create a drawing frame by frame flip book style and then "play" that drawing so you see the animation occurring like a flip book. DoInk's site says they rate themselves as a PG-13 site so we drafted a letter to send home to explain the project and to get parent permission. Feel free to download and use this parent letter:<br /><br /><a title="View DoInk Parent Letter on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/25642336/DoInk-Parent-Letter" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">DoInk Parent Letter</a> <object id="doc_625791249815694" name="doc_625791249815694" height="600" width="100%" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" style="outline:none;"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=25642336&amp;access_key=key-2hhiqpqqjmfihety01a8&amp;page=1&amp;viewMode=list"> </object><br /><br />In class, we created a half sheet of the "registration" directions and passed these out to the students. Feel free to take and use these directions:<br /><br /><a title="View DoInk Math Animation Project Insturctions on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/25642156/DoInk-Math-Animation-Project-Insturctions" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">DoInk Math Animation Project Insturctions</a> <object id="doc_417778735946429" name="doc_417778735946429" height="600" width="100%" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" style="outline:none;"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=25642156&amp;access_key=key-xpmxfn2b8g4gacwocum&amp;page=1&amp;viewMode=list"> </object><br /><br />I also created a brief video tutorial and put it online on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rux4x49JjuA">YouTube</a> and <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/8597913">Vimeo</a> so that if students forgot what to do and wanted a refresher to complete their project at home, they could watch the video. We only had one class period to dedicate to the project and wanted the students to still be successful in completing the proejct. I tagged both videos as "fpmsmath" as one word and included that in the directions so students could find the video easily if needed.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rux4x49JjuA&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;color1=0x5d1719&amp;color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rux4x49JjuA&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;color1=0x5d1719&amp;color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />When performing the demo for the students, I wanted to have a finished product so they could see what the final product should look like. This is this <a href="http://www.doink.com/clips/fpmsstudent/718009">sample I created</a> ahead of time for the students:<br /><br /><object width="480" height="360" allowfullscreen="true"><param name="movie" value="http://www.doink.com:80/a/718009"><embed src="http://www.doink.com:80/a/718009" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.doink.com/clips/fpmsstudent/718009">FPMS Math Sample</a> by <a href="http://www.doink.com/users/profile/fpmsstudent">fpmsstudent</a>, made at <a href="http://www.doink.com/">DoInk.com</a><br /><br />As for the assessment piece of this, one of the math teachers created the half sheet rubric below that we put on the back of the DoInk directions sheet.<br /><br /><a title="View DoInk Math Animation Rubric on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/25643072/DoInk-Math-Animation-Rubric" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">DoInk Math Animation Rubric</a> <object id="doc_700044778353805" name="doc_700044778353805" height="600" width="100%" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" style="outline:none;"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=25643072&amp;access_key=key-282y1sxrbn45nboypuo3&amp;page=1&amp;viewMode=list"> </object><br /><br />As part of the publishing process, we had students tag their animation with their teacher's name and "10" after it. The 10 was added to represent 2010 so if the math teachers repeat this project next spring, they can use 11 and so on so all search results aren't jumbled together.<br /><br />Overall, a lot of upfront work, but the payoff was great. We told the students they could draw a quick object and then animate it. Many of the students got very creative and it was great to see them applying their math knowledge to this project that incorprated using technology. To see some of their projects, head to the DoInk Search page and search for <b>Nackel10, Zomboracz10, or Hembre10</b>. Many students even went on to create their own animations after completing this project.<br /><br />A special thanks to Karen and Aaron with <a href="http://www.doink.com/">www.doink.com</a>. I had emailed them for some help and suggestions and they gave me some great (and FAST) feedback as we put the project together. I got in contact with <a href="http://twitter.com/Kdmiller4">Karen through Twitter</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/DoInkTweets">DoInk has a Twitter account</a> to follow for recent news and updates as well. <div><br /></div><div>Great project. Please let me know if you take and use these resources. I'd love to hear how it worked out for you.</div></div></div></div>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/01/doinkcom-7th-grade-math-project.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-105013614213946464Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:30:00 +00002010-01-23T08:28:23.122-06:00thoughtsWe'll See What I Make of This...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.smbmarketingguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/blog.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.smbmarketingguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/blog.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />So, as you can see...I've decided to set up chadkafka.com as an actual website. I have been struggling lately with where to "house" all the things I do on the web. Do I create a blog? Do I go all out and create an actual website? I messed with the programming code Joomla a little because our school district's website was created using Joomla.<br /><br />I'm not a fan.<br /><br />I'm sure to a programmer or code person it's very easy to use, but I found it very cumbersome. So that's why I'm here using Google Sites. I learned more about Google Sites at the recent Google Teacher Academy I attended in Washington DC in early December. I like the functionality of it and I like that I can have this "announcement" area to essentially create my first blog. So what will I blog about?<br /><br />...who knows. I have never been a "blogger." I'm guessing I will try to keep this on track with things related to technology so we'll see. I know that I want to keep things short because I'm not a big fan of LONG, DRAWN OUT blog posts about nothing. ...<br /><br />Back on track ... I had some brain storms tonight while driving home from our tour and visit to Lambeau Field so I have a first series of blog posts ready to go as I put them together. My hope is like the banner says...to Create, Communicate and Collaborate.http://blog.chadkafka.com/2010/01/well-see-what-i-make-of-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5826651679423515354.post-1830071764172033147Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:26:00 +00002009-11-14T21:36:09.262-06:00What is TWUBS?This week I had the pleasure of sitting in on a Webinar to learn how to use www.twubs.com So what is a TWUB? It stands for a "Twitter Hub." Tony Ferraro (<a href="http://twitter.com/tferraro">@tferraro</a> on Twitter) has been very helpful with offering webinars and training for those that set up a Twubs. Twubs allows for real-time following of Twitter messages as long as the Twitter posts have a hashtag (#) in them. It consolidates all tweets into a real-time feed. Great way to follow topics. <br /><br />Personally, I am setting up a Twub for the Google Teacher Academy I'll be attending in Washington DC on Wednesday, December 9th. 50 applicants were selected and many of them are on Twitter so we are now conversing through Tweets and our <a href="http://twubs.com/gtadc">Twub</a>. I am also setting up a <a href="http://twubs.com/milwaukeedmc">Twub for the Milwaukee Digital Media Conference</a> that will be taking place at the Milwaukee Art Museum in July of 2010. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/Sv93D3W18kI/AAAAAAAACf8/wa02dna-FZE/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 228px; height: 75px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DhX9gZ4EkkE/Sv93D3W18kI/AAAAAAAACf8/wa02dna-FZE/s320/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404168986150957634" /></a>http://blog.chadkafka.com/2009/11/what-is-twubs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Kafka)0